Carpinteria endorses state, federal bills aimed at law enforcement and immigration transparency

The Carpinteria City Council on July 28 directed staff to draft letters of support for multiple state and federal bills aimed at improving identification, accountability and transparency for law enforcement and immigration operations.

City staff summarized legislation under consideration, including California Senate Bill 627 (the "No Secret Police Act"), which would prohibit law enforcement from covering faces during operations in California and would require officers to wear uniforms or badges that clearly identify them; California Senate Bill 805 (the "No Vigilantes Act"), which would expand penalties for impersonating law enforcement and require verification before sales of official uniforms and badges; and multiple federal proposals, including H.R. 673 (ICE Security Reform Act) and measures that would require visible identification of immigration enforcement officers during public operations.

A staff member summarized the intent of the bills: "[they] would require officers, including ICE and border patrol, to display clearly visible identification such as their agency name and badge number during public-facing operations," and would prohibit face coverings that conceal identity except in limited circumstances, the staff member said. The council voted unanimously to direct staff to draft and submit letters of support for the bills listed in the staff report.

Public speakers urged the council to go further, including local funding and protections for immigrant residents. Becky Norton of the Carpinteria Immigrant Rights Coalition submitted a list of 10 local actions the city could take, including prohibiting voluntary sharing of personal data with ICE and funding deportation-defense services.

Council members asked staff to post letter texts and related updates to the city's legislative page and to keep the council informed of changes.