SUBMITTAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ITEM: 3.32
(rD # 27100)
MEETING DATE:
Tuesday, February 04, 2025
SUBJECT: EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND COUNTY COUNSEL Affirming Riverside County to be a Vibrant, Compassionate, and Welcoming County for all Law-abiding lmmigrants and Refugees.
RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-055 affirming Riverside County to be a Vibrant, Compassionate, and Welcoming County for all Law-abiding lmmigrants and Refugees.
2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a copy of this resolution to all Riverside County cities, our local state and federal legislators, and the Governor of California.
ACTION:Policy
tn nty nse
On motion of Supervisor Perez, seconded by Supervisor Gutierrez and duly carried, lT WAS ORDERED that the above matter is approved as recommended.
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent
Date.
XC:
Medina, Washington, Perez and Gutierrez
Spiegel
None
February 4,2025
EO, Co.Co., Local, State and Federal reps
Kimberly A. Rector
Clerk of the Board
Page I of 2 tot 27100
By
3.32 FROM : EXECUTIVE OFFICE AND COUNTY COUNSEL
MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SUBMITTAL TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE,
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FINANCIAL DATA Totrl Cost Ongolng Co3t
COST $o $0 $0 $ 0
NET COUNTY COST $o $o $o $0
SOURCE OF FUNDS: Budget Adjustment:
For Fiscal Year:
Sum marv
On January 28, 2025, the Board of Supervisors directed the County Executive Officer and County Counsel to prepare a resolution affirming that the County of Riverside is a vibrant, compassionate, and inclusionary county for all law-abiding immigrants and refugees for the Board of Supervisors' consideration at their meeting on February 4,2025.
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A: Resolution No. 2025-055
Current FiscalYear: Nert FlscalYear:
BACKGROUND:
The proposed resolution seeks to reinforce the Board of Supervisors' commitment to follow the law and to support for the law-abiding immigrant and refugee community.
RESOLUTTON NO. 2025-055
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE
AFFIRMING RIVERSIDE COUNTY TO BE A VIBRANT, COMPASSIONATE, AND
WELCOMING COUNTY FOR ALL LAW-ABIDING IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHEREAS, Riverside County is home to persons of diverse racial, elhnic, and nalional backgrounds, including a large immigrant population, with foreign-born residents comprising over 22o/o of the County's total population; and
WHEREAS, All Riverside County immigrant residents, whether they are U.S citizens, permanent residents, undocumented residents, refugees, or residents with any other immigration status, are valued and integral members of our social, cultural, and economic fabric; and
WHEREAS, Riverside County recognizes its long and rich history of immigrants who have contributed to our cultural community, local economy, and become leaders in agriculture, tourism, military, educalion, business, healthcare, governmenl, and other professionsi and WHEREAS, Law-abiding immigranls and refugees add significantly nol only to the County's economy, but also to the vitallty ofthe slate and national economies, with foreign-born workers representing almost 20% of the United States labor force and more than 35% of business owners in california; and
WHEREAS, Riverside County endeavors to inform all residents that interacting with local government should not put any residents at risk, regardless of immigration status' and irrespective of what service the individual is seeking to access, including benefits, reporting a crime, liling a legal document, or any of the countless other ways a resident and government come together; and
WHEREAS, Reducing language and cultural barriers to services and participation in civlc life promotes coordination of services and resources for law-abiding immigrants and refugees across all systems, champions cultural competence and understanding, and strengthens accountability to maintain the highest quality of services for our communities; and WHEREAS, The recent heightened attention on immigration has resulted in concerns and uncertainty among many, iniluding but not limited to immigrants, vulnerable residents, families in our community, and service providers; and
WHEREAS, The State of California has enacted several statewide laws as a deliberate declaration that California recognizes and values the contributions of immigrants in our mmunities, including:
. The TRUST Act, Assembly Bill4 (Chapter 570, Statutes of 2013), which limits the -
circumstances under which local iaw enforcement can detain individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities; and
. The TRUTH Act, Assembly Bill 2792 (Chapter 768, Statutes of 2016)' which ensures transparency and oversight regarding local law enforcement's communication with federal immigration authorities; and
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The VALUES Act, Senate Bill 54 (Chapter 495, Statutes of 2017), which limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement may use funds or personnel to support immigration enforcement and prevents police and sheriffs deputies from asking about an individual's immigration status, from sharing a person's personal information with immigration authorilies, unless otheMise required or permitted by law, or from arresting anyone only for having a deportation removal order or for mosl other immigration violations, and
California Welfare and lnstitutions Code section 831 , which: 1) clarifies that juvenile court records and information are confidential regardless of a youth's immigration status; 2) makes clear that federal offlcials do not get automatic access to juvenile court records and must petition the juvenile court in order to be permitted access; and, 3) states that a child's name and immigration status are protected by California's confidentiality laws and cannot be disclosed without court permission; and
California Government Code section 7285.1, which prohibits employers from voluntarily allowing ICE agents access to non-public areas of their workplaces or employee records without a .iudicial warrant; and
California Government Code section 7285.2, which prohibits employers from allowing ICE agents to access, review, or obtain the employer's employee records without a subpoena or.iudicial warrant; and
Adopting a resolution in 20'18 in support of undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children ("Dreamers") and/or participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, advocating for a federal legislative solution to allow Dreamers to remain in the country (Resolution No. 2018-028); and Creating subject matter expert attorney and paralegal positions for the Law Offices ofthe Public Defender's Office to provide legal assistance to noncitizen indigent clients facing criminal charges in state court, allowing the County to provide effective legal assistance to noncitizen clients as required pursuant to the United States Supreme Court decision in Padilla v. Kentucky,559 U.S. 356 (2010) (ltem 3.25 on the Board of Supervisors agenda for October 23, 20'18); and
Adopting a resolution in 2023 establishing the Eastern Coachella Valley Enhanced lnfrastructure Financing District, also known as ECV Prospera, will result in funding for expanded public infrastructure (including but not limited to infrastructure for water and WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors has an established history of taking steps to support immigrants in Riverside County, including:
Adopting a resolution in 2013 in support of comprehensive lmmigration reform, advocating for security/national defense, a tough but fair pathway to citizenship, a guest worker program for agricultural workers and other subsistence-wage workers, a special provision to ensure minor children are treated separately, a registration program with the governmenl to combat visa overstays, and an improved process for admitting future workers to serve our nation's workforce needs while simultaneously protecting all workers (Resolution No. 201 3-050); and
wastewater, transportation, utilities, and telecommunication) and for improvements to the Salton Sea (Resolution No.2023-051); and
Enhancing efforts to provide meaningful access to Spanish-speaking residents at Board of Supervisors' meeting by providing simultaneous Spanish interpretation of all comments made by board members, county staff, and members of the public, resulting in increased understanding, engagement and civic participation (ltem 3.6 on the Board of Supervisors agenda for November 7 , 2023): and
WHEREAS, lt is important that Riverside County remains a vibrant, compassionate, and welcoming county for all law-abiding immigrants and refugees, and that we are One County and that all ofour residents, regardless of immigration status, contribute to the social and economic fabric of this county.
NOW THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside:
1. Affirms that Riverside County is a vibrant, compassionate, and welcoming county for all law-abiding immigrants and refugees; and
2. Commits to safeguarding the civil rights of all our residents to the fullest extent provided by the law; and
3. Directs all County departments to continue to follow California state law, including the TRUST Act, the TRUTH Act, the VALUES Act, and Welfare and lnstitutions Code sectrons 827 et seq, Government Code sections 7285.1 and 7285.2 (and as they may be subsequently amended); and
4. Confirms that no County department or employee will initiate inquiry or enforcement action based solely on a person's actual or suspected immigration status, national origin, race, ethnicity and/or English proficiency, unless required to do so by state or federal law, and
5. Directs all County departments to review their confidentiality policies to ensure that eligible individuals are not deterred from seeking services or engaging with services based on immigration status; and
6. Promotes the value among residents of advancing efforts for integrating law-abiding immigrant and refugee communities, recognizing that a community is strongest when everyone feels welcomed, and
7. Continues to advocate for comprehensive, commonsense, and compassionate immigration reform and collaborate with stakeholders (including local institutions, organizations, and individuals) who are committed to this work.
BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside
8. lntends that this Resolution shall not be construed to prohibit any County department's assistance or cooperation with federal authorities if required by state and/or federal laws; and
L lntends that this Resolution shall not be construed to affect the independent and constitutionally designated investigative and prosecutorial functions of the Sheriff and District Attorney as provided in Government Code section 25303.
ROLL CALL:
Ayes: Medina, Washington, Perez, and Gutierrez
Nays: Spiegel
Absent: None
The foregoing is certified to be a true copy of a resolution duly adopted by said Board of Supervisors on the date therein set forth.
KIMBERLY A. RECTOR, Clerk of said Board
By:
e
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