League Presses County For ICE Non-Cooperation Ordinance

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will discuss an ICE Non-cooperation Ordinance again Sept. 8 as the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley and the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance push for its adoption.

Ana Pan has twice addressed the ordinance during public comment at Board of Supervisors meetings, LWVDV Co-President Mary Schreiber wrote in her September letter to league leaders and members.

Schreiber, a member of the league’s Immigration Team, wrote that ICE has set goals to deport more people and accused the agency of using cruel and illegal tactics.

The Federal Immigration Court in San Francisco has closed, and the Immigration Court at Concord’s Gateway office building now handles those cases, Schreiber wrote.

The privately owned building houses the court on its eighth, ninth, and tenth floors. Other tenants include an Urgent Care Clinic on the first floor, according to Schreiber's letter.

Some people who work in the building are Dreamers with DACA status, and the court’s presence makes their workplace stressful, Schreiber wrote.

Advocates and members of the public maintain a presence outside the building to support immigrants entering the court and increase public awareness.

The Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity holds vigils for people entering the court, while Indivisible ReSisters Contra Costa and others gather in front of the building.

LWVDV holds its vigil on the third Tuesday of each month.

At the state level, the League of Women Voters of California has issued an action alert supporting SB 423, which seeks to end secrecy in for-profit immigration detention centers in California.

The league also continues to focus on the November election through Pros & Cons presentations, candidate forums, and other work.

Schreiber serves as an LWVDV co-president with Anne Granlund and Kathy Gallagher. Readers can find more information on the league’s Immigration Team page.

Related: Contra Costa Sheriff Defends Limited ICE Information Sharing