AGENDA REPORT
___________________________________________________________________________________
TO: FROM:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council Councilmember Charlene Wang DATE: April 30, 2026
SUBJECT: Resolution in support of Senate Bill 1095
(Pérez) Expose Data Deportation Centers
___________________________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCILMEMBER CHARLENE WANG AND PUBLIC SAFTEY COMMITTEE CHAIR
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 1095 (PÉREZ) EXPOSE DATA
DEPORTATION CENTERS FROM SHARING SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION
WITH GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTITIES FOR PURPOSES OF UNLAWFUL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND RACIAL OR IDENTITY PROFILING.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 1095 (SB 1095), introduced by Senator Pérez and amended on March 25, 2026, addresses the operation of "fusion centers" in California. These state-owned data hubs currently gather and share information between local, state, and federal agencies. SB 1095 proposes strict prohibitions against using these centers for immigration enforcement—unless a judicial warrant is provided—and for activities involving racial or identity profiling. The bill further mandates increased transparency through annual audits, public record accessibility, and unannounced inspections by elected officials.
BACKGROUND:
Fusion centers are defined as state-owned centers operated by the Office of Emergency Services (OES) that involve law enforcement agencies and governmental entities in gathering, analyzing, and sharing information. California currently operates at least six such centers, including:
• State Threat Assessment Center
• Central California Intelligence Center
• Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center
• Northern California Regional Intelligence Center
• Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center
• San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center
While originally intended to prevent terrorism, reports from the United States Senate have found little evidence that these centers have meaningfully contributed to disrupting active plots.
Current operations of fusion centers present several risks to the privacy and civil rights of California residents:
• Massive Data Collection: Centers collect highly personal information, including location data, biometrics, driver’s license records, and social media activity without the consent of individuals. • Surveillance Abuses: These centers have a history of targeting Muslim and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, as well as tracking peaceful protest movements and climate advocacy groups.
• Immigration Enforcement Loophole: Fusion centers can serve as a "loophole" to bypass state and local laws that restrict collusion with federal immigration enforcement. For example, ICE has previously used these centers to locate immigrants' vehicles.
SB 1095 introduces the following protections and oversight mechanisms:
Prohibitions on Information Sharing and Cooperation
The bill prohibits fusion centers from participating in or disclosing information to any governmental entity (including federal and out-of-state agencies) for the purpose of:
• Assisting or furthering immigration enforcement, unless pursuant to a judicial warrant or court order.
• Investigating or surveilling individuals in violation of state prohibitions against racial or identity profiling.
Operational Restrictions
• Office Space: Fusion centers would be prohibited from providing office space to agencies engaged in immigration enforcement.
• Unlawful Entities: The OES must bar any entity or contractor from working inside a fusion center if it is known they are engaged in unlawful intelligence-gathering that violates constitutional rights.
Transparency and Oversight
• Elected Official Inspections: State and local elected officials and their staff would be authorized to enter fusion centers for inspections without prior notice. • Annual Reporting: Starting January 1, 2027, the OES must submit a detailed annual report to the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding data retention policies, participating agencies, and the number of information requests processed.
• Audits: The DOJ will be required to conduct an annual audit based on these reports and submit it to the Legislature.
• Public Records: All records related to fusion centers will be considered public records, with specific exemptions to protect the identifying information of individuals stopped or searched.
RACIAL AND EQUITY IMPACT:
• Prohibition of Identity Profiling: SB 1095 explicitly prohibits fusion centers from participating in activities that involve racial or identity profiling as defined by Section 13519.4 of the Penal Code.
This is intended to restore public trust and ensure that state-owned data hubs do not circumvent local and state laws designed to eliminate profiling.
• Privacy for Vulnerable Groups: The legislation specifically aims to protect the privacy of those seeking reproductive care and transgender individuals who have sought refuge in California, noting that these communities remain at risk as long as sensitive information is shared with out-of-state or federal entities.
• Protection of BIPOC and Muslim Communities: Fusion centers have a documented track record of targeting and surveilling Muslim and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities and activists.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The bill identifies itself as having a fiscal impact at the state level.
CONCLUSION:
By supporting SB 1095, the City reinforces its commitment to protecting the privacy of its residents and ensuring that local and state resources are not entangled with federal immigration enforcement or discriminatory profiling.
Prepared by: Bridget Ruiz Rivezzo, Policy Dierector for Councilmember Charlene Wang District 2 contact: [email protected].