CaliforniaCalifornia law protects rights of civil immigration detainees
California law gives people held for civil immigration proceedings rights to care and safety, and requires facility operators to protect detainees’ rights.
What it does
People held for civil immigration proceedings in California have rights to humane care, health services, safe food, clean facilities, and communication, with some limits.
Operators of California facilities holding civil detainees or people held because of developmental or mental health disabilities must protect their rights.
The Attorney General may ask a court to protect detainees’ rights and impose a penalty of up to $2,500 per violation.
Argument forCare, clean facilities, safe food, and confidential calls could help people held for civil immigration proceedings stay healthier and in contact with others.
Argument againstLimits on call times, mail amounts, or access for good cause could make it harder for detainees to stay in touch with family or advisers.
More detail
The law gives people held for civil immigration proceedings specified rights in locked facilities. These rights cover people held for civil immigration proceedings in California at state, county, local, or private locked facilities, including facilities holding people for federal immigration agencies. Federal or state laws and regulations may specifically limit the general rights. Access to phones, writing materials, and mail may be limited for good cause; phone hours, call length and frequency, and payment methods may also be limited to ensure access for everyone. Letters and documents may be inspected for contraband and mail may be limited under facility policy. Mail to or from an attorney, court, or government official may not be read by anyone other than its addressee. The law took effect immediately.
The law requires facility operators to observe and protect covered people’s rights. This applies to operators of any California facility where people are housed or civilly detained. It covers rights in the listed state laws and regulations, as well as the Civil Code rights for civil immigration detainees. The law took effect immediately.
The Attorney General may sue to protect covered people’s rights and seek court orders or civil penalties. This authority covers the rights provided for civil detainees and people protected under the listed state laws and regulations. A civil penalty may not exceed $2,500 per violation. The Attorney General may also seek other appropriate court relief. The law took effect immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 29Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 755, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 29Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 6 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 26Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 31. Noes 5. Page 5914.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB942 Caballero et al. Urgency Clause Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 26Urgency clause adopted.Major
- Aug 25In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 942 Caballero Third Reading Urgency By Ortega. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 25Read third time. Urgency clause adopted. Passed. (Ayes 64. Noes 11. Page 6528.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 20Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 20Read third time and amended.Major
- Aug 13Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (August 13).Minor
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 2Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (June 30).Major
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 22From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 15Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jun 11From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Major
- Jun 11June 16 hearing postponed by committee.
- Jun 8Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.Minor
- May 26In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading SB942 Caballero et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 4452.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 20Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 19Ordered to second reading.Minor
- May 19Read third time and amended.Major
- May 14Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0. Page 4258.) (May 14).Minor
- May 8Set for hearing May 14.
- May 4May 4 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 24Set for hearing May 4.
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3976.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 17Set for hearing April 21.
- Apr 16From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 9. Noes 0. Page 3901.) (April 15). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 15
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 6From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.Major
- Mar 26Set for hearing April 15.
- Mar 11Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.Minor
- Mar 4From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.Major
- Feb 11Referred to Com. on RLS.Minor
- Jan 30From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 1.
- Jan 29Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
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