Friend –

All people in California deserve to thrive without fear and to live with dignity – no matter their immigration status. But studies show that, for immigrant families, the constant threat of policing, arrest, and deportation is destructive to their wellbeing.

This is especially evident in the Central Valley, where California's pro-immigrant sanctuary laws are not fully realized. The Immigrants' Rights Project at the ACLU of Northern California has exposed the many ways in which Central Valley sheriffs have worked in the shadows with immigration agents to circumvent these laws and funnel Valley residents into the deportation dragnet.

We invite you to join us on Wednesday, July 27, for a panel discussion with experts from the region on how immigration enforcement impacts immigrant youth and the health of our immigrant communities in the Central Valley.

While California has been a national leader in extending the health and social safety net to immigrants, it must not ignore the devastating consequences of immigration enforcement on the health of immigrant families and communities.

We hope you will join us and our partners to discuss the ways in which California can truly realize its commitments to providing public health and sanctuary for immigrant communities. Because we cannot fight for one without the other.

Sincerely,

Maria Romani
Interim Immigrants' Rights Director, ACLU of Northern California