A bill that would keep immigration status private during most civil lawsuits has cleared a Senate Judiciary Committee vote.
Senate Bill 1429 would adjust the Code of Civil Procedure to say immigration status may only be admissible evidence if it is absolutely essential to the case or the individual party voluntarily reveals that information.
Under the proposal, if a party needs to cite a person’s immigration status because it is essential to a case, they would need to file a written motion 14 days before
trial.
Judges would then conduct an in camera hearing to determine whether or not the immigration status is essential. During this time, the information would be sealed unless the courts ruled otherwise.