Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher
SACRAMENTO–Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego)’s legislation calling on the Trump Administration to stop its current “zero tolerance” immigration practices that have separated and detained thousands of families passed the Assembly today on a bipartisan 66-0 vote.
Asm. Gonzalez Fletcher authored Assembly Joint Resolution 46 to put California on the record of urging President Donald J. Trump, the U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the United States Department of Justice, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and all other relevant federal departments to immediately cease the implementation of the “zero tolerance” federal immigration policy and to not propose any additional inhumane immigration policies in the future. AJR 46 also calls for compassion and decency for all individuals, families, and children who arrive at our borders seeking a better life.
Every single member of the Assembly’s Democratic Caucus signed on as a co-author of AJR 46 on June 21 when Asm. Gonzalez Fletcher introduced the measure, a rare occurrence reserved for the most pressing and widely supported legislative efforts.
“I’m deeply saddened this resolution is even necessary and saddened that we have to fight our president to just act in a humane manner,” said Asm. Gonzalez Fletcher, who serves as Vice Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “Our immigration laws have always been complex, but you have to think we are a better country than what’s happening at the border now. And whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, one thing is clear to everyone in California: We have all benefited from the hard work of those who have come here from another country, even those without documentation. We must do better.”
The Trump Administration’s zero tolerance has already resulted in the separation of more than 2,000 children from their parents in detention centers. The Administration is already working to build temporary facilities on military bases, including some in California, to house thousands of migrants. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has sought available space for 2,000 detainees within the next two months and up to 12,000 more people in family detention over time.
After today’s Assembly floor vote, AJR 46 will be considered by the California State Senate.
