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San Francisco Chronicle
31-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Amid Epstein scandal, California navigates its own sex trafficking panic
With the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and Sean Combs trial jarring public attention around sex trafficking, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday signed a bill that aims to increase penalties for traffickers of teens and their customers. But more than three dozen civil rights, survivor and immigrant organizations — and even some legislators who voted for the bill — say the well-intentioned Assembly Bill 379 revives a vague, Jim Crow-era law that Newsom largely struck from the books three years ago because of its discriminatory application against Black and gay communities. And the opponents say that AB379 could inadvertently help the Trump administration deport California immigrants who have done nothing wrong. 'None of us want minors to be sex trafficked. None of us want anyone to be sex trafficked,' said Ann Block, a senior staff attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national policy organization that opposed AB379. '(But) this bill is so vague. … I can't imagine how this will not sweep up a lot of people who have nothing to do with prostitution.' AB379's emotionally fraught, five-month journey to becoming law underscores a political dichotomy: At a time when President Donald Trump is being hammered by his MAGA base for withholding the so-called Epstein files, in Sacramento it is the Democrats who are on the defensive regarding one of society's darkest crimes. Introduced in February by Assembly Member Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, AB379 sharpens criminal penalties against adults who solicit sex from teens and civil penalties against businesses that enable them. It does this by making the solicitation of 16- and 17-year-olds a 'wobbler' offense that prosecutors can charge as a felony if the perpetrator is more than three years older than the victim. The age-gap provision was added to make sure older teens and young adults wouldn't face sex-crime felonies for being in consensual relationships with younger partners, and quieted one of the first dustups over the bill. But the real battle erupted over a portion of the legislation that has gotten little media attention. AB379 also makes it a misdemeanor to loiter in a public place with the intent to purchase commercial sex, a crime the bill says can be evidenced by 'circling an area in a motor vehicle and repeatedly beckoning to, contacting, or attempting to contact or stop pedestrians or other motorists, making unauthorized stops along known prostitution tracks, or engaging in other conduct indicative of soliciting to procure another to engage in commercial sex.' Opponents say that language is so broad it can apply to day laborers, rideshare drivers, outreach workers and people who live and work in neighborhoods where prostitution occurs, an argument the impartial Senate Rules Committee bolstered in an analysis warning the definition 'may be constitutionally overbroad.' 'It could be (challenged),' said Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, one of only two legislators to vote against AB379. 'Loitering laws inherently raise potential constitutional issues, because they're so vague in terms of the behaviors that are being criminalized.' Wiener was the one to introduce Senate Bill 357 in 2022, which deleted the crime of loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution because of its fuzzy definition and discriminatory history against Black, brown and LGBTQ communities. A 2019 study by the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office found the charge resulted in hugely lopsided arrests of young Black women because of how they were dressed. When he signed SB357 in July 2022, Newsom pushed back against law enforcement criticism that it would legalize prostitution. 'It simply revokes provisions of the law that have led to disproportionate harassment of women and transgender adults,' the governor wrote in his signing statement, adding a cautionary note that he'd be watching 'crime and prosecution trends for any possible unintended consequences and will act to mitigate any such impacts.' Newsom, largely speculated to be considering a 2028 presidential campaign, did not release a signing statement for AB379. A month after SB357 took effect in 2023, San Diego's police chief claimed it prevented his officers from rescuing trafficked sex workers by arresting them. The California Penal Code includes multiple laws against human trafficking, pimping and pandering and prostitution. 'To be clear, the police don't need anti-loitering laws to protect or help survivors or hold traffickers accountable,' Jess Torres, a child sex trafficking survivor who was formerly incarcerated and undocumented, said during the Senate Public Safety Committee hearing on June 10. 'Human trafficking continues to be illegal and we already have a trafficking law that criminalizes persons who pay for sex with minors.' Opponents have also raised the issue that the loitering misdemeanor can be a deportable offense and gives the Trump administration another avenue into California's immigrant communities, which have been under siege from Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at worksites, courthouses, clinics, campuses and homes. 'ICE are going after people who are arrested, who enter the criminal justice system at all. They're arresting people at arraignment, without prior contact,' said Kate Chatfield, executive director of the California Public Defenders Association, which opposed the bill. 'Just expanding the net of arrests for people, whether or not they're ultimately convicted, you are putting them in ICE's crosshairs.' Krell, who had her authorship stripped from AB379 during the bill's sharp-elbowed journey, contested that argument. 'I would love to see ICE go after sex traffickers, but they're not. And this bill won't change that,' she said. AB379's 51 registered supporters, including 25 law enforcement agencies and unions, as well as seven cities and some survivor groups, have also dismissed the immigration concerns as catastrophizing while shifting focus onto the bill's other changes. 'The most important aspect of this bill is creating a felony around solicitation,' said Yasmin Vafa, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Rights4Girls, an AB379 cosponsor. Vafa testified during committee hearings that this was a racial justice issue, involving affluent white male buyers and Black girl victims. 'If we were talking about white girls, this wouldn't be a debate.' In California, the federally funded National Human Trafficking Hotline said it identified 1,261 acts of sex-related trafficking among callers in 2024, a 10-year high and 48.5% higher than in 2015, the earliest year for which the hotline provided annual totals. The hotline, operated by the national anti-trafficking nonprofit Polaris, said its callers also reported the highest numbers of sex-trafficking cases occurring on the street (122) and in residences (111) since at least 2015 last year. According to the Human Trafficking Institute, California's federal courts saw 14 new sex-trafficking prosecutions in 2023, the second most behind Texas (21). Federal courts are where more trafficking prosecutions occur. Both the Human Trafficking Institute and Polaris caution that their numbers do not reflect the true prevalence of sex trafficking. Krell, a former deputy attorney general who prosecuted trafficking cases in the California Department of Justice, said she made sure AB379 only brings back the loitering misdemeanor in a way that can be used against sex buyers, not the sellers. 'It's targeted at those who are looking to buy,' said Krell, who has also introduced bills this session that would require social media companies to remove more child sexual abuse material and expand relief for people who were convicted of crimes as a result of being trafficked. 'It doesn't go after sex workers and it definitely doesn't go after victims.' But AB379 does make sex workers eligible for $1,000 fines that would go into a special fund for prosecutors and diversion programs like the one run by Community Against Sexual Harm, a bill co-sponsor and a survivor-led organization started by a Sacramento police officer in 2013. Republicans in the Legislature rallied around AB379, and have used sex trafficking as a cudgel to hammer away at the supermajority party and enhance their influence. 'I have to say, I'm tired of excuses,' Sen. Suzette Martinez Valladares, R-Santa Clarita, said before the Senate's July 14 floor vote. 'We should all be able to agree on this. There is no moral or rational argument against protecting children from being bought and sold for sex.' While Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about reviving a loitering law that was first used against the state's indigenous residents in the 1800s, all but seven voted for AB379, with five abstentions, and expressed their wish that the issues be addressed after it became law. Wiener, who said he would have voted for AB379 if it was just about soliciting teens for sex and who said he endured slurs and death threats in the years he worked to repeal loitering, said he would not be the one to clean up the Legislature's 'mess.' Block, of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, characterized AB379's success as an instance where narrative overpowered the facts. 'In the times that we're in with the federal administration attacking California and many other states, perhaps this was a way of saying, 'Look, we're doing something about sex trafficking,' she said. 'That is something that is hard for legislators to vote against.'
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How ILRC's 'Red Cards' can help protect immigrants during ICE encounters
[Source] As immigration enforcement actions grow under the Trump administration, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center's 'Red Cards' remain a practical, trusted tool for asserting legal rights during encounters with ICE. Immigrants — and anyone who might face questioning by authorities — are encouraged to download and carry these cards, and to share them widely with family, friends and neighbors. The wallet-sized cards provide clear, legally grounded instructions based on constitutional protections. They outline the right to remain silent, the right not to open the door without a judge-signed warrant, the right to refuse to sign documents, and the right to speak with a lawyer — regardless of immigration status. Originally created in 2007, the Red Cards are available for free in 39 languages at The ILRC recommends printing them on red cardstock with rounded corners to improve durability and visibility. They are designed to be kept easily accessible in a wallet or near a front door. Since 2020, more than 9 million cards have been downloaded — more than in the previous 17 years combined. Though not part of a current ILRC campaign, the Red Cards continue to be shared informally by educators, advocacy groups and legal clinics. The organization urges users to avoid third-party sellers and download only from its official website to ensure legal accuracy. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump's legal orders' impact: how is the Immigration Enforcement wave flooding and how you can help
Amidst the Trump administration's intensified 2025 immigration crackdown, families like Rosario Gonzalez's are facing immense challenges. Detained in a workplace ICE raid, Gonzalez, a Long Beach grandfather, embodies the sweeping changes impacting undocumented immigrants nationwide. Advocacy groups are mobilizing to provide legal aid, community support, and policy advocacy in response to the administration's aggressive enforcement strategies. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Advocacy efforts supporting families Legal Aid and Representation: Groups such as the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC), Immigrant Defenders Law Center, and local legal defense funds provide pro bono legal services to detainees, helping navigate complex immigration courts and challenging deportations. Mutual Aid Networks: Grassroots volunteer groups deliver groceries, provide transportation to court and medical appointments, and offer emotional support to families afraid to leave their homes due to ICE activity. Know Your Rights Education: Nonprofits conduct workshops to educate immigrants on their legal rights during ICE encounters, helping reduce fear and misinformation. Policy Advocacy: Organizations lobby for immigration reform, sanctuary policies, and humane treatment of detainees, while challenging unlawful enforcement actions in court. Community Solidarity Events: Protests like the 'No Kings' movement in Long Beach highlight community resistance to aggressive deportations and build public awareness. Legal context: The Trump administration's 2025 Immigration Enforcement agenda Executive Orders on Enforcement: The administration issued multiple executive orders mandating 'total and efficient enforcement' of immigration laws. These orders emphasize enhanced border control, expanded use of expedited removal, and increased detention capacity. Criminal Prosecution of Immigration Violations: For the first time, federal prosecutors are directed to aggressively pursue criminal charges related to immigration paperwork violations, harboring undocumented individuals, and unlawful entry—offenses that historically have been handled primarily as civil matters. State and Local Cooperation: The administration is pressuring states and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Sanctuary jurisdictions that limit cooperation face threats of losing federal funding and prosecution of local officials under conspiracy and harboring statutes. Expanded Registration and Penalties: Undocumented individuals are required to register with DHS, with civil and criminal penalties for failure to do so. The government also imposes fines on undocumented immigrants and those assisting them. Legal Challenges: Some 2025 policies, such as restrictions on birthright citizenship, face ongoing legal challenges, but enforcement continues amid these disputes. Historical background: Trends in Immigration Enforcement Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Shift from Prioritizing Serious Criminals to Broad Enforcement: Earlier policies focused on deporting individuals with serious criminal convictions. The 2025 approach broadens enforcement to include anyone unlawfully present or violating paperwork requirements, increasing the pool of potential detainees. Increased Use of Detention: The administration is expanding detention facilities and prolonging detention periods, often holding immigrants far from their families and legal counsel, as in Gonzalez's case. Criminalization of Civil Immigration Violations: By prosecuting immigration paperwork offenses as criminal acts, the administration is blurring the line between civil and criminal immigration processes, increasing the stakes for undocumented individuals. Sanctuary City Crackdowns: The administration targets sanctuary jurisdictions through funding cuts and legal action against officials who refuse to cooperate with ICE. The human cost and broader implications As the Trump administration's 2025 immigration crackdown intensifies, advocacy groups and communities across the country are mobilizing to support families like that of Rosario Gonzalez, a 50-year-old Long Beach grandfather and father of five who was recently detained in a workplace ICE raid. Gonzalez, the family's primary breadwinner and a nearly three-decade resident of the U.S., now faces an uncertain future—one emblematic of the sweeping changes reshaping life for undocumented immigrants response to intensified enforcement, a robust network of advocacy organizations and community groups have mobilized to support families like the Gonzalez family:In 2025, the Trump administration launched a sweeping immigration enforcement strategy aimed at 'faithfully executing' immigration laws to their fullest extent. This approach includes mass deportations, expanded arrests, and aggressive prosecution of immigration-related elements of the 2025 policy include:This legal framework has led to a surge in ICE arrests nationwide, including workplace raids like the one leading to Gonzalez's Trump administration's 2025 policies represent a continuation and intensification of enforcement trends that began during Trump's first term (2017–2021):These trends have contributed to widespread fear and disruption in immigrant communities across the Gonzalez family's ordeal—marked by separation, uncertainty, and emotional distress—reflects the human toll of these policies. Being detained far from home, as Gonzalez is in Texas, complicates access to legal counsel and family support, prolonging and elderly family members often bear the brunt of economic and psychological impacts , with many families struggling to maintain stability amid sudden arrests.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Red cards' that give advice for ICE encounters seen locally
When unconfirmed rumors of immigration enforcement activity in Scranton's Hill Section and elsewhere spread online last week, some social media feeds popped with red. 'Red cards,' or 'tarjetas rojas' in Spanish — business-card-size images named for the color — give advice on constitutional legal rights when approached by immigration officials, for noncitizens as well as citizens. The standard red version is put out by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national nonprofit. The American Civil Liberties Union offers the same basic advice, and its logo often shows up in posts. Supplies of red cards, or their equivalent, have been available at some branches of the Luzerne County library system, the University of Scranton Weinberg Memorial Library and the Needle Law Firm in Scranton. Rose Randazzo of Scranton posted the Immigrant Legal Resource Center red card on her Facebook page Tuesday after hearing the Hill Section rumors. She's an attorney, mostly retired, so she stresses that she's not offering legal advice. She's not in favor of open borders. But many people here illegally are long-term good neighbors, Randazzo said. * A Spanish language red card on the website of the Partnerships to Uplift Communities charter school network in the Los Angeles area. (PUC Schools) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Advice for interactions with ICE on 'red cards.' (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) * Rose Randazzo of Scranton is one of many who have posted red card advice on social media as ICE enforcement increases. (Rose Randazzo) Show Caption 1 of 5 A Spanish language red card on the website of the Partnerships to Uplift Communities charter school network in the Los Angeles area. (PUC Schools) Expand 'Irrespective of legal status, they do have a right to due process and certain rights under the fourth and fifth amendments, and a lot of these individuals do not understand that,' Randazzo said. The Hazleton Integration Project printed about 100 of its own version of advice for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement encounters a few months ago. They were gone within a day or so, said Franchesca Aquino, education director at the community center. HIP will print it on request. About 75% of Hazleton residents are Latino, many with roots in the Dominican Republic. It is estimated that a lot are in the country illegally, Aquino said. 'They are a little afraid,' she said. Aquino advises people in the country illegally to stay away from parties, stick close to family and not answer the door if ICE knocks. Generally, the red cards and their equivalent recommend not opening a door to ICE, not answering questions, not consenting to searches and avoiding signing anything without a lawyer. Detentions by ICE are spiking nationwide under the administration of President Donald Trump. With that in mind, Michele Kushmeder, executive director of the Hazleton Public Library, added stacks of a bookmark to the North Church Street library's display of immigration materials a few months ago. It has a QR code that leads to a long list of resources, including red cards. In Lackawanna County, no public libraries currently have red cards on their information tables, said Sandy Longo, executive director of the county library system. Two member libraries have plans. The Carbondale Public Library and the Valley Community Library, in Blakely, will be adding them to the various community resources on their information tables. The Scranton Public Library does not have any plans to have them available, she said. Action Together NEPA, a regional progressive group, is considering ways to assist people who may be approached by ICE, said Communications Director Jessica Brittain. Nationally, ICE does not always announce all detentions, and its officers do not always wear uniforms. Social media rumors of ICE activity in the Hill Section and other areas could not be confirmed. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Social media posts often use puns, such as 'icy in the Hill Section tonight.' Also on social media have been a few calls for ICE to visit specific Northeast Pennsylvania stores and posts celebrating local ICE enforcement actions. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center gives instructions for printing and ordering red cards at They can be printed, or ordered in bulk, with English on one side and any of more than 30 other languages on the other. This week, the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce website posted a guide to ICE interactions for businesses in its member news section. It includes an overview of different documents ICE might use. Stevens & Lee, a large East Coast law firm that has offices in Northeast Pennsylvania, offered the materials, said Bob Durkin, president and CEO of the Chamber. The Chamber of Commerce wants businesses to be well informed on issues but has no policy or comment on immigration, Durkin said. The link to the fact sheet is
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us': Rock Falls site of immigration policies protest
Feb. 17—ROCK FALLS — About 30 people gathered on First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls on Saturday afternoon to protest immigration policies enacted by the Trump administration. "You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us," said protestor Connie Garza of Rock Falls. "I shed many tears last week." Nora Serrano of Sterling organized the event on Facebook after seeing videos of recent deportations, Serrano said in an interview with Shaw Local. "My family came here looking for the American dream," she said. As of Feb. 7, there have been about 1,000 arrests nationally, with about 100 of them taking place in Chicago and its suburbs, according to the ACLU of Illinois. Illinois is a sanctuary state. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center says Illinois and Oregon are considered among the most protective states for immigrants. About a week ago, the Trump administration sued Illinois, Cook County and Chicago over its respective sanctuary laws. The state's TRUST Act, enacted in 2017, prevents local authorities from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement with civil immigration enforcement or asking people about their immigration status. ExpandAutoplay Image 1 of 8 Nora Serrano, a registered nurse at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, shows off her multi-generational family flag with pride Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, on the First Avenue bridge between Sterling and Rock Falls. (Katie Holloway) Saturday, the group stood bundled against nearly freezing temperatures holding up signs with slogans like "Immigrants Make America Great" and "Families Belong Together" while drivers honked their horns in support. Other signs included "Immigrants Built America" and "Columbus Didn't Discover America, He Invaded It." "I'm a believer in love," protestor Miriam Ferrel said. "Love will win over hate any day." Ferrel, a 2004 graduate of Rock Falls High School, said her grandfather "sacrificed a lot for our family" by migrating to America from Mexico at just 17 years old. She figured that if he could do that, she "can stand out in the snow for a couple hours," Ferrel said in an interview with Shaw Local. Serrano, a registered nurse at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, said she "wants to show that we're not all criminals." Garza's mom is an immigrant from Mexico and her dad is from Texas. Together in Rock Falls, her parents had 13 children, Garza said. Garza, along with her 12 siblings, all grew up in Rock Falls and now have children of their own. All of them work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy, she said. She pointed to her dad in particular, whom she said has brought "so much money into Rock Falls" as the former owner of a Mexican restaurant and radio station. Her mom "helped him with everything" while raising their 13 children, Garza said. Garza's mom died Dec. 20, 2024, she said. "I'm sitting here and screaming for my mom and my family and my culture," Garza said. Another protester, Cytlalik Cadenas Lopez, said her whole family migrated to America from Mexico. First they landed in Chicago, but moved to Ashton in 2004 and have been there ever since. Lopez said she came out to show her support and to be here for those who weren't able to attend. "I think it's wrong that they're splitting up families," Lopez said. Garza said Rock Falls is a "heavily Mexican area... everywhere you turn there are Mexicans." She referenced buying fruit at the grocery store: "Who picked that? And guacamole: "Who made that," Garza asked. "I hate to see people love our culture but hate us," she said.
