California Bill Would Help Keep Street Vendors’ Sensitive Data From ICE

This article was first published by the nonprofit newsroom LA Public Press on August 28, 2025 and is republished here with permission.

Long a part of the food ecosystem and culture of Southern California, street vendors waged a long fight to become part of the formal economy. In 2018, the City of Los Angeles dropped criminal penalties for street vending from its municipal code, and in 2019, the state followed, essentially decriminalizing the business of street vending. Since then, cities across California have developed permitting, health codes, and registration processes for street vendors that are meant to protect the small business owners and consumers.

But vendors say the system they worked so hard to create is now putting some of them at risk as the Trump administration escalates immigration enforcement operations that have broadened over the past couple of months to include people with no criminal backgrounds. Federal immigration enforcement in LA has pushed an unknown number of street vendors into hiding or caused them to stop working. The arrests have also sparked solidarity from community members that have collected donations for street vendors who are unable to work.

When issuing street vendor permits, cities and counties in California are currently allowed to ask applicants to disclose sensitive personal information, including immigration or citizenship status. Under current state law, that data can be accessed by federal authorities, including immigration enforcement agencies.

A bill set to be considered Friday by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, would change that. State Senator Maria Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles Democrat, introduced Senate Bill 635 in February to safeguard street vendors’ data.

Called the Street Vendor Business Protection Act, the legislation would prohibit local permitting agencies from collecting applicants’ sensitive information, including criminal history, place of birth and biometric data like fingerprints.

Ofelia, who has worked as a street vendor for 32 years in LA, told LA Public Press that SB 635 would help entrepreneurs like herself.

“This bill would help street vendors accomplish their dreams and continue to work to support their families,” Ofelia said. She added that it “would give vendors hope, a sense of safety, and a moment to breathe in these difficult times where this new administration is harming us so much.”

Ofelia sells garments and electronics from a stall near MacArthur Park. LA Public Press agreed not to share her full name.

“Protecting vendors’ key documentation has always been a goal in order to ensure their information is secure,” said Sergio Jimenez, an organizer with Community Power Collective, which advocates for street vendors and co-sponsored SB 635. “There’s a fine line between the role of the city agencies and federal government agencies when it comes to targeting and racial profiling the community in LA.”

SB 635 is also co-sponsored by Public Counsel, Inclusive Action for the City, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles and Community Power Collective.

SB 635 would also bar government agencies regulating street vending from voluntarily sharing vendors’ information with federal immigration agencies, unless the federal authorities provide a subpoena or a judicial warrant. The existing California Values Act bars local governments from using their resources to support immigration enforcement operations.

Local governments that possess any sensitive information that would be barred under SB 635 would have until March 1 to destroy the records, according to the legislation.

Durazo said in a June 4 statement that federal authorities are “terrorizing” immigrant communities. The bill, she said, would empower street vendors.

“Immigrant men, women, and children continue to face the threat of family separation through deportation. The federal government has initiated aggressive and violent tactics that are terrorizing our neighborhoods,” Durazo said. “SB 635 ensures street vendor entrepreneurs have rights and can continue living and working without fear.”

As many as 50,000 street vendors operate in LA County, including 10,000 who sell food on sidewalks, in parking lots and on street corners across the region.

After Friday’s scheduled hearing, the bill could head to the Assembly for a full vote unless it’s held back by lawmakers. If it’s amended, the Senate — which previously approved the bill — would also vote on the legislation again before it would head to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, according to Jonathan Loc, a spokesperson for Durazo.

The deadline for the legislature to approve bills is Sept. 12.