Sacramento Bee: Slate of bills to regulate immigration enforcement awaits Newsom’s signature

California lawmakers have tackled a host of immigration-enforcement issues during the legislative session. But as it draws to a close, the state Senate and Assembly has rapidly advanced bills to establish state health inspections of detention centers, prohibit the construction of new facilities and disclose emergency service calls made from within the centers.

Prohibition on new detention centers construction SB 1367 would prohibit cities and counties from approving the construction of new detention facilities or the transformation of existing buildings into detention facilities. According to Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, the bill’s author, the legislation aims to protect against the rapid expansion of detention facilities in California. Specifically, the bill targets facilities not built for long-term human habitation, such as warehouses and industrial buildings, Cervantes said. “At a time when immigrant families continue to face fear, separation, and incarceration, SB 1367 reflects a growing recognition that our local land use policies should not facilitate the growth of detention infrastructure, including the repurposing of warehouses to detention centers,” Cervantes said.

For the full story, click here: Bills regulating detention centers head to Newsom’s desk | Sacramento Bee