SACRAMENTO – As the first bill in her 2025 legislative package, Majority Leader Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) has announced Senate Bill (SB) 12, legislation to establish a new state agency dedicated to Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. The Agency, and its Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs would provide a permanent governmental framework focused on streamlining services, creating grant programs, and engaging stakeholders to enhance support for immigrant and refugee families in California.

In the face of an incoming Trump Administration that has promised to take hostile actions against immigrant communities, California must be prepared more than ever before. Trump’s promises of mass deportations and the unprecedented threat of deploying the US Military to remove undocumented Americans would hurt not only immigrant families, but all California families, our economy, and the cultural and social benefits that new Californians bring to our communities.

Nearly half of California’s children have at least one immigrant parent, and 27% of the state’s population is foreign-born—the highest share of any state and more than double the national average. The consequences of malicious and heartless deportations would create widespread fear and division with devastating impacts on our social fabric and economy.

“It is terrifying to think about the dire impacts of the callous proposed actions targeting some of our most hardworking Californians,” said Majority Leader Gonzalez. “California must remain steadfast in protecting the rights of our immigrant communities, and creating a state agency dedicated to ensuring they have the resources they need is doing right by them and all Californians. I urge my colleagues in the Legislature to support this critical bill that will equip our state to respond boldly in the face of any hostile actions against our immigrant communities.”

Establishing a state agency to provide greater access to critical resources, such as legal representation and policy updates, would be instrumental in combating misinformation and fear that we have seen hurt our communities in the past, when anti-immigrant policies were implemented. This agency would enable a more efficient, unified process for monitoring ongoing immigration issues in close collaboration with stakeholders, offering an invaluable tool to address the needs of California families as emerging challenges unfold.

“An Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Agency will help California respond to the incoming administration’s cruel mass deportation plans and other anti-immigrant policies,” said Angelica Salas, Executive Director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA). “Immigrants contribute significantly to our state and are being unfairly targeted by dangerous and prejudiced rhetoric. We applaud Senator Gonzalez for standing with California’s immigrant families and working to improve our state’s resources for our immigrant and refugee neighbors during this critical moment for human rights.”
 

###

Majority Leader Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which encompasses the City of Long Beach, Catalina Island, and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Commerce, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. In the Senate, she advocates for working families and champions various priorities, such as fighting for a clean environment, digital equity, LGBTQ+ and women's rights, and the economic prosperity of small businesses. Her landmark legislative achievements include bills enacted to end neighborhood oil drilling, provide broadband for all, and expand paid sick leave. Majority Leader Gonzalez also serves as Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. She lives in Long Beach with her family. 

CHIRLA was founded in 1986 to advance the human and civil rights of immigrants and refugees. CHIRLA became a place for organizations and people who support human rights to work together for policies that advance justice and full inclusion for all immigrants.  CHIRLA has since become one of the largest and most effective advocates for immigrant rights, organizing, educating and defending immigrants and refugees in the streets, in the courts, and in the halls of power.