Actions for organizers

Actions organizers can take at different stages to interrupt the Arrest-to-Deportation Pipeline.

At “Police Stop” Stage

1. City council can help establish a local “justice fund” to provide legal representation for immigrants in their city facing deportation. Importantly, these justice funds can ensure that there are no barriers to qualification and that those who may have criminal histories can still get legal representation. Examples:

2. City council can also pass ordinances preventing other city departments from cooperating with, or sharing information with immigration enforcement.

At “Police Arrest & Local Police Department Lockup” Stage

Organizers can elevate demands to limit the collection and sharing of personal information with the appropriate elected authority or authorities. This is true of all the policies and measures discussed in this document.

Different cities can have different governing structures. Learn more about your city here:
http://www.calif.com/california-cities.php

Learn more about California counties here:
https://www.counties.org/general-information/county-structure-0

At “State Crime Conviction” Stage

1. Demand the governor commute sentences.

2. Demand a gubernatorial pardon on an individualized basis.

3. Push legislators to pass legislation prohibiting CDCR from cooperating with ICE.

4. Work with the county board of supervisors to enact ordinances increasing oversight over the county probation department’s cooperation with ICE, and if possible, prohibiting county probation departments from notifying ICE of an individual’s upcoming appointment.

At “The Individual is Convicted of a Federal Crime, either by going to trial or as part of their plea agreement” Stage

Access to counsel can make a significant difference in the outcome of an individual’s immigration case. Unlike criminal proceedings, immigration proceedings are a civil administrative matter. Therefore, individuals are not guaranteed the same due process protections as they are in the criminal process, including the right to an attorney.

While it may be difficult at this stage to intervene and prevent an individual from being transferred to ICE, organizers can work at the federal level to advance a publicly-funded universal representation model (analogous to public defense in criminal cases) for immigrants in deportation proceedings