IDA sponsors AB 263 (Bonta) – The HOLD Act: Health Oversight and Leadership in Detention Act

Immigrant Defense Advocates will be sponsoring AB 263 – The HOLD Act: The Health Oversight and Leadership in Detention Act with Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D).

California is home to six private detention facilities, five of which are used to hold immigrants in civil detention. All six of these private facilities have been the site of COVID-19 outbreaks. The uncontrolled spread of the virus in these facilities not only threatens those detained as well as staff – but can drain medical resources in surrounding communities and hospitals.

AB 263 will be an urgency bill in order to respond to the public health crisis in private detention facilities in California.

Find out more about AB 263 here

The bill is part of IDA’s ongoing focus on public health in immigration detention and will build on prior builds passed by Assm. Bonta including AB 3228 and AB 32.

In a press release released by Assm. Bonta, IDA Policy Director Jackie Gonzalez noted, “Private detention facilities in our state have been the scene of massive COVID outbreaks, inhumane practices, and medical neglect. California must send a clear message that these facilities are not above the law, and must abide by public health orders designed to protect community health and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Read the full press release from Assm. Rob Bonta on AB 263