My name is Eddie Meyer, and I am the immigrants’ rights senior policy advocate at the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
I am here to restate our strong support for the Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules, or CLEAR, Ordinance.
Across our region, increased targeting of certain communities has created a climate of fear that affects people’s daily lives. This especially impacts immigrant families, working-class communities, people of color, LGBTQIA+ residents and people with disabilities.
When people are afraid to move through their communities, trust erodes and EVERYONE is impacted.
Among its protections, CLEAR:
- Limits access by federal law enforcement to county facilities;
- Requires county contractors and vendors to safeguard protected personal information; and
- Limits the county’s participation in immigration-related joint task forces.
This ordinance will help people feel safe accessing public services and participating in civic life. Protecting civil liberties strengthens trust, strengthens communities and strengthens public safety.
We again urge the board of supervisors to vote in favor of this ordinance.
