SAN DIEGO, CA  -- Today, the House of Representatives passed two bills that seek to further separate immigrant families, while holding federal funds hostage for cities and states unless they agree to be part of the Trump Administration's massive deportation force.

• H.R. 3003 looks to withhold federal funding to cities and states that limit their work with federal immigration officers. It seeks to force local police departments to help deport people with no criminal records, separating families and undermining public safety for all.   
• H.R. 3004 would increase the penalties for undocumented immigrants who have previously been deported. In essence, it seeks to provide longer sentences for lower-level prior offenses.

Christian Ramirez, Human Rights Director at Alliance San Diego, issued the following statement:

"Having police officers do the work of border agents undermines public trust and threatens public safety for all. Instead of tearing families apart, we should rein in the extraordinary powers of immigration officers, who can stop, interrogate and search children on their way to school and parents on their way to work --all done without a warrant or reasonable suspicion. Today more than ever, cities and states need to stand up and support policies like Senate Bill 54, "California Values Act," which prevents state and local dollars, and law enforcement agencies, from helping immigration officials terrorize families. Passage of these two misguided bills are an affront to immigrant communities across the country."

About Alliance San Diego 

Alliance San Diego is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) community empowerment organization working to ensure that all people can achieve their full potential in an environment of harmony, safety, equality, and justice. Our mission is to to provide a means for diverse individuals and organizations to share information, collaborate on issues and mobilize for change in the pursuit of social justice, especially in low-income communities and communities of color. We pursue this mission through targeted civic engagement programs and strategic coalitions that focus on specific issues and policy reforms.