1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

California must do more to shield undocumented residents from the trauma and disruption of recent ICE raids. These federal actions have created widespread fear, destabilized families, and undermined trust in public institutions. I urge you to immediately strengthen legal protections for immigrants by: • Expanding state-funded legal aid and rapid-response services • Blocking any state or local agency cooperation with ICE or DHS • Issuing a statewide directive that all California law enforcement agencies fully comply with SB 54 and go beyond it, including no data sharing or ICE holds • Funding mental health and trauma recovery support for communities impacted by raids, detention, and separation Your leadership matters in this moment. While I appreciate the legal challenge to federal troop deployment, we need proactive state policies that go beyond defense—we need California to lead in protecting immigrant lives. Please act urgently to ensure our state remains a true sanctuary—not just in word, but in action.