Press Releases

SACRAMENTO — California State Controller Malia M. Cohen today issued the following statement in response to the unjust arrest of SEIU California President David Huerta and the ongoing federal attacks on immigrant communities:

“What happened to David Huerta is a disgrace — not just an attack on one man, but an attack on all of us who believe in justice, dignity, and the right to speak truth to power.

California has long stood as a beacon of inclusion and justice. Our commitment to protecting immigrant communities is unwavering — not just in words, but in the policies we enact and the budgets we build. These raids undermine public safety, strain local resources, and damage trust between communities and government.

In the face of injustice, I am inspired by the courage and determination of working people who are rising-up and making their voices heard — peacefully and powerfully.

I join SEIU members and communities across the country in demanding the immediate release of David Huerta and an end to the inhumane practices of family separation and unjust detentions.

As State Controller, I will continue to work toward a California where no one lives in fear simply because of who they are or where they come from."

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen independently oversees and manages California’s financial resources with integrity and transparency to build trust. The Controller is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Controller on X at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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