Senator Sasha Renée Pérez issues statement on the Assembly Appropriations Committee’s vote to kill SB 995, The Masuma Khan Justice Act

SACRAMENTO – Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) has issued the following statement on the Assembly Appropriations Committee’s vote to kill SB 995, The Masuma Khan Justice Act:

“I’m deeply disappointed by the Assembly’s action to kill SB 995, The Masuma Khan Justice Act, in committee today. Considering reports from across the country about inadequate standards of care at these facilities, including conditions that have resulted in deaths, as well as reports from our Attorney General highlighting numerous shortcomings, this bill would have provided life-saving health and safety oversight of privately-operated immigration detention facilities. This oversight is especially necessary because existing contractual obligations and regulatory requirements under current law have not resulted in adequate protections for people held in these facilities.

“California has seen a record six deaths across privately-operated detention facilities since last year. If cost was the reason this legislation was killed, then I would ask: What is the dollar figure at which protecting human life becomes too expensive? 

“The Masuma Khan Justice Act received unanimous bipartisan support on the Senate floor, not a single no vote in the Assembly or Senate and was supported by over 50 civil rights and public advocacy organizations. Who said no?”

What others are saying about SB 995:

“Our family is deeply disappointed that SB 995 - The Masuma Khan Justice Act did not pass today, especially knowing how personal and meaningful it was to my mom and so many others. My sincere thanks to Senator Pérez and her team for their leadership and tireless work, and to everyone who advocated, raised their voices, and stood with us. We cannot forget the lives lost because protections like these were not in place. This may be a setback, but their lives and the need for change deserve to be remembered and honored. Today's decision does not erase the importance of what we fight for and will continue to fight for every single day,” said Riya Khan, daughter of Masuma Khan.

"Had there been a law in place like SB 995, overwhelming number of deaths and suicides under ICE custody would not have happened. The Assembly Appropriations Committee should have supported SB 995 and saved lives," said Shakeel Syed, Executive Director, South Asian Network, co-sponsor of SB 995

"We are deeply disappointed that SB 995 did not make it across the finish line this session. This bill was named for Masuma Khan because her story — and the stories of so many others held in unsafe, unaccountable facilities — demanded a real systemic change. That need hasn't gone away because this bill didn't pass. If anything, it's more urgent. We will keep fighting for these protections in Sacramento, in the courts, and everywhere else people are being held without basic health and safety oversight, until we get things right," said Ritu Mahajan Estes, Public Counsel, co-sponsor of SB 995.

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.