Some people don’t realize they have a state senator, too. Don’t be ashamed if you’re one of them! The reason I bring this up is because — if you’re mad about Congress being inept — you might want to look to your state. California leads the way on holding ICE accountable, largely in part to Senator Pérez. She wrote two key bills that:
• Require ICE agents to be unmasked (it’s being revised per a judge)
• Require ICE agents to wear ID; it also bans the use of bounty hunters in immigration enforcement
Yes, you read that right: ICE is using our taxes to pay people (ordinary civilians) under the table to help ‘catch’ undocumented people.
Senator Pérez’s bill ends that. Thankfully, it’s holding up in court (the Trump administration is challenging both bills).
Other things to know about Sasha Renée Pérez (SRP, if she wants to use it). She’s:
• The youngest state senator in California
• The second-youngest female senator in the state’s history
• The former mayor of Alhambra, a job she assumed at 28 (the youngest mayor in the city’s history)
• The first in her family to attend college
• Openly LGBT (B)
• A DJ on the side (although maybe it’ll take off)
• An Oasis fan
• Was 3 when (What’s the Story) Morning Glory came out, which make me feel ancient
Senator Pérez’s district — District 25 — encompasses Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Altadena, Pasadena, South Pasadena (separate city — bet you can guess why!), San Marino, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Claremont, Rancho Cucamonga, Glendora, Alhambra (home to the best breakfast), and more. It also has the Angeles National Forest.
In our interview we cover immigration (ICE and Border Patrol), AI, and the wildfires. We also get clarity on how many calls it takes from constituents to make a state legislator take note of an issue. It’s five. That’s it!
Our chat also comes on the heels of Congress failing to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. The bill the Senate did pass — which the House rejected — didn’t include any of Democrats’ demands (to rein in ICE). Which is even more of a reason to push back on ICE through your state.
I hope you watch — it’s a dose of hope amidst the chaos.
