Santa Clara County and San Francisco are working to stop President Donald Trump from giving federal agents sweeping discretion on who can obtain a green card. A Sept. 14 lawsuit filed alongside New York City, Chicago, Seattle and King County, Washington alleges the Trump administration’s new criteria for barring immigrants from becoming lawful, permanent residents if they...
Judge orders pause on work at South County ICE facility
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction blocking construction at a proposed ICE facility in South County as the lawsuit against the project plays out in court. In a 23-page ruling filed Friday, Northern District of California Judge Eumi Lee said that plaintiffs are “likely to succeed” in their claim that the federal government...
Santa Clara County residents say local news matters
Santa Clara County residents said the news closest to home matters most, but a new survey shows it’s also the hardest to find. Residents ranked what’s most important in their neighborhood ahead of their city, the county, Bay Area, California, nation and world, according to a survey of 2,031 county adults — of which 52%...
San Jose conference highlights digital divide facing Latinos
As artificial intelligence reshapes Silicon Valley, Latino leaders are pushing for a bigger role in deciding who benefits from the technology and who might get left behind. That question was at the center of a two-day conference in San Jose, hosted by the New York-based Hispanic Federation, which brought together nonprofit leaders and community advocates...
Silicon Valley water agency selects new CEO
Santa Clara County’s largest water supplier is turning to a longtime employee to lead the agency into its next chapter after a tumultuous split with the last CEO. The Valley Water board of directors voted 5-2 Tuesday to appoint Aaron Baker as its next CEO. Baker, chief operating officer of water utility, takes over Jan....
Silicon Valley immigrants to face stricter green card requirements
Federal rule changes taking effect later this month will make it harder for immigrants applying to live and work in the U.S. Starting Sept. 18, obtaining a green card will require a greater burden of proof that the applicant won’t become a “public charge” who is dependent on government benefits. As part of the process, green...
UPDATE: Federal judge weighs temporary pause for South County ICE facility
The judge reviewing a lawsuit seeking to block a proposed ICE facility in South County has deferred a ruling on a preliminary injunction asking for a temporary halt to construction work. The Tuesday decision from Northern District of California Judge Eumi Lee means it may take another week or more until she renders her final...
Bay Area lawmakers’ bills to combat ICE head to Newsom’s desk
Several state bills spurred by Silicon Valley lawmakers to keep federal immigration agents accountable and uphold rights for detainees are headed to the governor’s desk. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities have been rife with alleged human rights violations, with reports of inhumane living conditions, sexual abuse, unsanitary food and inadequate medical care. In...
Judge favors blocking planned South County ICE facility
A federal judge has indicated she is leaning toward granting a preliminary injunction that would block a controversial plan to create an ICE facility in South County as the lawsuit against it proceeds. Eumi Lee, a judge with the Northern District of California, issued a tentative ruling Friday in which she said that plaintiffs have...
Santa Clara County schools united in opposing ICE facility
School districts across Santa Clara County are taking a stand against a proposed immigration enforcement facility in South County. A coalition of education and county leaders gathered Wednesday to denounce the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) center being planned in an unincorporated area just outside Gilroy. The group is sending a joint letter —...