Governor Newsom Signs Senator Durazo’s SB 580 Into Law, Strengthening Protections for Immigrant Communities

SACRAMENTO, Oct 13 – Senator María Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) announced today that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 580, the Strengthening Immigrant Protection Response Guides Act, into law. The bill, signed on October 12, strengthens the Attorney General’s model policies and database guidance for state and local agencies on civil immigration enforcement, ensuring all Californians can access public services without fear.

California is home to over 10 million immigrants, representing 27 percent of the state’s population. They are essential workers in key industries including construction, agriculture, hospitality, childcare, and domestic services, and contribute over $8.5 billion in taxes. SB 580 comes at a critical time when immigrant communities face increased federal immigration enforcement activity. Immigrants are being targeted on all fronts, and the looming threat has caused families to face fear and instability – forced to choose between safety, work, and supporting their families, and to reconsider basic daily decisions like whether to go to the hospital, send their children to school, or go to work.

“California has always stood as a beacon of hope and protection for immigrant families,” said Senator Durazo. “SB 580 ensures our state and local agencies have the tools, training, and clear guidance they need to protect our communities while upholding our values. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for his leadership in signing this critical legislation into law.”

For nearly a decade, the Attorney General’s Office has published model policies to help local and state agencies respond to civil immigration enforcement. While recent guidance has been issued for superior courts, healthcare facilities, colleges and universities, K-12 schools, labor enforcement agencies, public libraries, and shelters, some sectors remain without clear instructions – leaving workers unprepared, sensitive data exposed, and the public at risk.

SB 580 addresses this gap by:
· Requiring the Attorney General to publish model policies for state and local agencies relating to interaction with immigration authorities and protecting state resources from civil immigration enforcement based on current law.
· Requiring the Attorney General to publish guidance, audit criteria, and training recommendations for databases.
· Requiring state and local agencies to implement the AG’s model policy guidance and encourages agencies to use the database guides.

David Huerta, President of SEIU California and SEIU-USWW (United Service Workers West), praised the legislation: “As President Trump continues to stoke fear and division by invading American cities, and ICE agents kidnap moms and dads off our streets without cause, our local governments are on the frontlines of these incursions. We must ensure that our local governments are fully prepared and trained on how to interact with ICE and to protect sensitive information, like courthouse and medical data, from abuse and misuse. Thank you, Senator Durazo, for authoring SB 580 and continuing to advocate for this important bill even as ICE stormed through your district and our communities. Thank you to Governor Newsom for making SB 580 law and standing up to federal overreach and indiscriminate, violent attacks on our communities.”

SB 580 is sponsored by SEIU California and supported by a broad coalition including Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, California Faculty Association, California Federation of Labor Unions AFL-CIO, CARECEN-LA, Oakland Privacy, UNITE HERE Local 11, United Domestic Workers/AFSCME Local 3930, and UnidosUS.