Lynn La, CalMatters
Starting next year, Californians who provide legal aid, counseling or other types of assistance to immigrants will be eligible for a privacy program that keeps their addresses confidential and out of public records.
Gov. Gavin Newsom approved this latest expansion of California’s Safe at Home program amid concern among Democratic legislators of a rise in reported harassment and threats against immigrants and immigration advocates.
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What is the Safe at Home program?
California’s Safe at Home program was established nearly 30 years ago to protect the identities of domestic violence victims. Since then, the state expanded eligibility to include victims of stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking and elder abuse, as well as to people who work in reproductive healthcare and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials.
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How can I enroll in it?
Individuals must reside in California and make an appointment with a designated enrolling agency, where they will meet with an application assistant and complete the application process. During this process, potential participants must provide evidence that they have received credible threats of violence — which can include police reports or court documents. Submitting false information may result in a misdemeanor.
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Why did Republicans vote against the law?
Republican legislators and other conservatives are threatening to challenge the law in court, saying it violates the First Amendment. GOP Assemblymember Carl DeMaio of San Diego, one of the biggest opponents of the legislation, dubbed it the “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” alleging that its true purpose is to intimidate journalists like Shirley, and limit their ability to investigate organizations for fraud, waste and abuse.
Bonta disagrees with this characterization, saying that the law does not shield organizations from accountability or public scrutiny. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, a Santa Cruz Democrat and proponent of the law, also pointed out during the floor vote that no news organization has come out to challenge the measure.
“The opposition to AB 2624 has not come from them,” Pellerin said. “It has come from bad faith actors looking for an available vehicle to smear immigrant communities and the people who serve them.”
