In 2016, Governor Brown signed into law the important TRUTH ACT, which greatly increased transparency about the actions and communications between local law enforcement agencies and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE). 

Under the TRUTH ACT, which I strongly support, local law enforcement  must inform individuals in custody of their rights regarding contact with ICE agents. This includes getting written consent to be interviewed by ICE and informing them that talking to ICE is voluntary. 

The Act also says that if a local law enforcement agency receives an ICE hold, notification or transfer request, that information must be provided to the impacted individual. And, if local law enforcement intends to comply with the request, the individual must be informed, along with his or her attorney, and one additional person he or she chooses.

In addition, the TRUTH Act made all records relating to ICE access provided by local law enforcement subject to the state's Public Records Act.

The Act also requires an annual public meeting on the access that local law enforcement has given ICE to people in custody. These forums, to be held by the local legislative body overseeing that law enforcement agency, were required to start in 2018.

The first TRUTH Act forum in Contra Costa County will be held next Tuesday, July 24, in the Board of Supervisor's Chamber in Martinez. (Details below.)

This is a timely forum, given the Contra Costa County Sheriff's recent decision to end its controversial contract with ICE to hold detainees in the West County Detention Facility. I had long advocated for the Sheriff to end this contract, and applaud his decision.

This forum will give the public an opportunity to comment on the involvements of ICE, law enforcement and the West County detainees.