California Senate committee condemns militarized immigration raids in SJR 9

The Senate Committee on Public Safety on June 24 adopted Senate Joint Resolution 9, a measure denouncing recent militarized immigration raids and calling for protection of California residents from warrantless and aggressive federal enforcement actions. The measure passed the committee with amendments and was placed on the floor with the committee’s recommendation.

Authors and witnesses described widespread, aggressive enforcement operations since early June that, they said, used military-style tactics, masked agents and flashbangs and in some cases targeted workplaces, hospitals and schools. "These inhumane raids are eroding the trust in our federal government," said Senator María Elena Durazo, one of the joint authors, describing accounts from constituents and community organizations. "They flagrantly violate our constitutional rights to assemble, to protest, to speak out, and live freely without fear."

The resolution — presented by Sen. Durazo and coauthor Sen. Anna Caballero — condemns mass immigration arrests and urges protection of civil liberties and due process. Durazo told the committee federal agents attempted to enter two Los Angeles Unified elementary schools and sought children without judicial orders; school staff, she said, refused to admit them. "The immigration officials lied," she said during her presentation.

Witnesses described detention conditions and tactics they characterized as indiscriminate. Janette Sanipatin of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights testified that federal agencies were operating in Los Angeles and other Southern California counties alongside National Guard and active-duty personnel; she said people were detained without access to counsel and in unsanitary conditions at facilities such as Adelanto. "This is day 19 of the assault in Los Angeles," Sanipatin said. Bruno Weisad of the California Immigrant Policy Center said DHS reported more than 330 arrests as of June 11, while community organizations reported higher counts. He said the Adelanto facility was holding roughly 1,200 people — a 400% increase since April — and that detainees lacked phones and basic hygiene.

Supporters framed the resolution as both a human-rights and economic issue. Durazo cited a UC Merced estimate included in briefing materials that mass deportations could sharply reduce state GDP; Sen. Caballero said agricultural employers were already reporting labor shortages tied to worker fear. Caballero said the raids were "not about public safety. They are about political fear mongering at the expense of working families."

Committee members divided along familiar lines about remedies. Several senators pressed for the state to use legal tools to resist federal practices and to work with civil-rights organizations. Others urged a more cooperative posture toward federal authorities to avoid impeding dialogue and to raise concerns about ensuring the identity of armed, masked people operating in communities.

The committee adopted technical amendments adding whereas clauses clarifying which groups were implicated and correcting the reported arrest figure from 330 to 400. The motion to adopt SJR 9 with those amendments passed in committee and the item was sent to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Votes at committee were recorded as the resolution being adopted with amendments and sent to the floor.