Seattle Ordinance 126035 (“Clean Campaigns Acts”) related to campaign finance regulations. The ordinance limits contributions to independent expenditure committees (CB 119730); prohibits contributions by foreign-influenced corporations (CB 119731); and requires greater transparency in political advertising (CB 119732).

In addition to disenfranchising people through law and policy, felony disenfranchisement laws create additional barriers to voting. The complexity of these laws and a lack of awareness about them have caused confusion and misinformation among formerly incarcerated communities as well as probation officers and the general public. Many who are actually eligible to vote do not know they are eligible and therefore refrain from voting. This report unpacks the issue of felony disenfranchisement in California by studying the issue from the community’s perspective, asking questions about the importance of voting among the formerly incarcerated, their current knowledge and awareness of who can vote, what their primary barriers are to voting and what suggestions they have for how to improve both access to voting and access to information about who can vote.

For this article, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center interviewed defenders from four counties in California. Each with a different model. The models include having a full-time or a part-time in-house immigration specialist; contracting with an outside organization; having an in-house specialist supported by a contract; and having a full-time in-house specialist who also provides deportation defense. The defenders discuss the elements of these models, how they are funded, what the day-to-day work is like, and advice they would give to others starting such a program.

Language assistance policies have historically helped facilitate voter participation by limited-English proficient(LEP) citizens when fully implemented, and researchers find that interventions like Spanish language ballots have a positive effect on voter turnout. Providing the minimum assistance required by the Voting RIghts Act, such as translated voting material, enables LEP communities to become informed about the issues on the ballot and feel more confident about participating in elections. Additionally found that language assistance coverage helps act as a signal booster for institutions like media, who influence elections by providing information to voters, thereby magnifying the positive effects of language assistance in informing, preparing and mobilizing LEP voters. While many election officials do their best to serve these communities and comply with the law, in some cases litigation has been needed to enforce the law. We have laws that protect these voters, yet their voter participation rates remain low. To unpack what might be contributing to this trend, this study sought to: 1. Evaluate existing federal law and identify potential gaps in coverage; and 2. Understand California communities’ perspectives on what works, what doesn’t and what more is needed to ensure the services that are available reach those who need them.

As our country continues to reel from the effects of the Great Recession, it is more important than ever to foster a more pragmatic appreciation for the role that government can and should play in shaping an economy that benefits us all. Unfortunately, Americans have a hard time understanding how the economy works, and they have a very limited sense of what government's role is or could be. But, there are openings in the public mind, especially in the wake of the recent and ongoing economic crisis. While experts may focus on statistics like the Gross Domestic Product or how the market is faring, average people tend to judge how the economy is doing by the wellbeing of those around them. Do people have jobs? Can they send their kids to college? Can they save for retirement? This is the moment to connect the dots between these basic economic expectations and the public policy and fiscal decisions that shape the answers. Research conducted for Demos has revealed a core idea that begins to connect those dots in helpful ways: our public systems and structures are the foundation of our economy and they are essential for a strong and vibrant middle class. These public systems and structures - like our schools, highways, the FDIC, and our reliable court systems - have always been critical to our economic success.

Culver City Police Policy of Responding to ICE Detainer Requests specifically stipulates they city won't honor hold requests or give ICE notification of release dates.

AN ORDINANCE ending the honoring of civil immigration hold requests from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for individuals in the custody of the department of adult and juvenile detention; and amending Ordinance 17706, Section 2, and K.C.C. 2.15.020.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act (VTVPA) passed with bipartisan support in 2000. The VTVPA created the U Visa, a nonimmigrant visa for victims of certain crimes who have been, or are likely to be, helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of a crime. The purpose of this is two-fold. First, it enhances law enforcement's ability to investigate and prosecute crimes. Second, it furthers humanitarian interests by protecting victims of serious crimes.

King County Superior Court Policy on No Courtroom Arrests Based on Immigration Status

Stanta Cruz County Sheriff's Office executive order ending ICE detainer requests follow federal Oregon ruling.