Block 3
Using Public Records to Promote Accountability & Shed Light on Immigration Enforcement
Civi Engagement & Advocacy
In this session, the First Amendment Coalition’s Legal Director David Loyd and Press Education Specialist Paloma Esquivel will offer a primer on accessing public records in California and discuss how public records can be used to shed light on immigration enforcement across California. The session will include an overview of the California Public Records Act, tips for filing successful records requests and advice on navigating delays and denials. Attendees will also learn about tools and resources available to help with requests. In addition, we will highlight some California laws that create public records related to immigration enforcement and talk about how those records can help illuminate what is happening at the state and local level.
David Loy
David Loy became legal director of the First Amendment Coalition in February 2022. He is an experienced litigator who has defended free speech, a free press, and the people’s right to know for over 25 years. Since joining FAC, David has defended the First Amendment and open government laws in state and federal courts, winning legal victories protecting access to public records and the right to report the news. In 2024, the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recognized him with a James Madison Freedom of Information Award. He received a 2025 Visionary Award from California Safe Schools. Before joining FAC, David served as legal director of the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties for almost 16 years.
Paloma Esquivel
Paloma Esquivel is a Press Education Specialist with the First Amendment Coalition. Before joining FAC, she worked for nearly two decades as a journalist, including 17 years at the Los Angeles Times. She was part of the team that won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for public service for investigating corruption in the city of Bell and the team that won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for coverage of a mass shooting in San Bernardino. She is a co-founder of the L.A. Times Guild Latino Caucus and in 2020 was named one of the most influential Latina journalists of the year by CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California. Prior to embarking on a career in print journalism, she worked in Spanish-language radio in the Inland Empire.
