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Bill

AB 1994

Defending Immigrant Victims Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Alvarez and 2 co-sponsors

California bill establishing protections for immigrant crime victims to encourage reporting without immigration status consequences or barriers to victim services.

Referred to Com. on PUB. S.
#defendingimmigrantvictimsact
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Bill Summary · AB 1994

Legislative bill overview

AB 1994 would establish legal protections and support services for immigrant victims of crimes in California. The bill aims to ensure that immigration status does not prevent victims from reporting crimes or accessing law enforcement assistance and victim services.

Why is this important

Immigrant crime victims often avoid reporting crimes due to fear of deportation or immigration consequences, leaving perpetrators unpunished and communities less safe. This bill addresses a real barrier to public safety by creating pathways for vulnerable populations to seek help without jeopardizing their legal status.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of protections: Debate over whether protections should apply to all immigrants or only certain categories (legal residents, those with pending status, etc.)
  • Law enforcement cooperation: Questions about whether local police must limit information sharing with federal immigration authorities, and how this affects existing cooperation agreements
  • Resource allocation: Concerns about state funding requirements for victim services, translation, legal assistance, and how costs will be distributed across counties
  • Implementation details: Unclear whether protections extend to family members, witnesses, or only direct victims, and how different agencies will coordinate

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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