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Activists Call on Counties to Enforce TRUST Act

The California State Capitol Building in Sacramento (file photo)
Andrew Nixon
/
Capital Public Radio
The California State Capitol Building in Sacramento (file photo)

California’s TRUST Act has been in place since the beginning of the year. As Katie Orr reports from Sacramento, immigrant rights activists say the law is working, but there are still gaps in compliance.

Martin Del Agua, a married father of two, was arrested earlier this year in Sacramento after a neighbor complained he was playing his music too loud. Del Agua was detained on an immigration hold by the Sheriff’s Department and was facing deportation.

Immigrant advocates say stories like his are why counties must still be reminded about the California TRUST Act, which says undocumented immigrants may not be held for deportation if they’ve only been arrested for minor crimes. Attorney Angela Chan says the law has lead to fewer deportations.

Chan: “I would say that overall, most counties are following the TRUST Act. So, there is significantly a good, positive impact in stopping deportation in California. And California had it really hard.”

Chan says before the law California led the country in deportations.

Del Agua got lucky, his case drew the attention of a local attorney before immigration officials could pick him up. He was released from jail and the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department has since developed a TRUST Act policy.

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