California Bill SB-995, Masuma Khan Justice Act, Aims For Detention Reform

India-West News Desk

ARTESIA, CA- California State Senator Sasha Renee Perez (25th District), with South Asian Network as co-sponsor, has introduced Senate Bill 995, known as the Masuma Khan Justice Act.

The bill is named after Masuma Khan, a 64-year-old resident of Altadena, California, who was detained during a routine USCIS immigration check and held for over a month at the privately operated California City Detention Facility run by CoreCivic.

South Asian Network, in partnership with Public Counsel, litigated her case and secured her release. According to the organization, Khan was held under conditions that included molded food, unclean drinking water, lack of access to required medication, and exposure to cold temperatures.

“I experienced fear and lasting trauma that no one should have to experience,” Khan said of her detention.

The new bill requires private detention facilities to undergo periodic inspections and evaluations by state agencies to ensure compliance with health and safety standards. Senator Perez said the bill “allows us to hold these facilities accountable when they don’t.”

Shakeel Syed, executive director of South Asian Network, said detainees from South Asia have reported “freezing temperatures, expired food, and not meeting meal needs such as vegetarian or halal… denial of medications and treatment and extremely unsafe and unsanitary living conditions.”

The bill includes provisions related to oversight of detention facilities and detainee conditions.