Good morning, chair and supervisors. My name is Eddie Meyer, and I am the immigrants’ rights senior policy advocate at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
We strongly support the Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules, or CLEAR, Ordinance.
This ordinance helps protect basic constitutional rights for everyone who lives in, works in, or accesses San Diego County services or facilities. Those rights shape whether people feel safe accessing services, entering county buildings or participating in civic life.
The CLEAR Ordinance sets clear standards for how county resources can be used in law enforcement activity. It limits government overreach and ensures county power is exercised lawfully, transparently and with accountability.
Among its protections, CLEAR restricts access by federal law enforcement to county facilities, requires county contractors and vendors to maintain the confidentiality of protected personal information, and limits the county’s participation in joint task forces for immigration purposes.
For many people in our region, especially immigrant families, working-class communities, people of color, LGBTQIA+ residents and people with disabilities, the increased targeting of their communities has created a climate of fear, negatively impacting their daily lives. When people are afraid to move freely in their communities, trust breaks down and our communities suffer.
San Diego County has the responsibility to ensure that all its residents rights are protected and upheld. Protecting civil liberties strengthens trust, communities and public safety. The CLEAR Ordinance advances these protections for families across San Diego County.
We urge the board of supervisors to vote in favor of this ordinance.
Thank you.
