A contentious issue, illegal immigration, poses a number of economic, political, and cultural challenges to the country. Often, the debate becomes a partisan-fueled, highly emotional diatribe between the two major parties. This section cover issues from the Dream Act to Arizona’s contentious immigration reforms, as Independent-minded voters are seeking potential solutions that obey the rule of law, stay within the confines of a budget, and maintain a compassionate, but realistic outlook on immigration.
Against the backdrop of President Obama’s State of the Union speech during harsh economic times for many, the communications director for a California immigrant rights group believes that the President is obligated to readdress the importance of immigration reform tonight.
Costs in the CalWORKS welfare benefits program for the children of illegal immigrants living in Los Angeles County are rising, according to a report released by County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.
With the reintroduction on Friday of AB 130, the California Dream Act, state legislators have given yet another indication that California will be a conducive climate to building a bridge with the illegal immigrant population while other states seek to strictly enforce federal law.
As many pondered the cause of the attempted assassination of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords by a lone gunman, UC Chancellor Robert Birgeneau sought to derive a broader meaning from what he believed to be a volatile political environment, and wondered how the same climate would affect the struggles of illegal immigrants.
Despite earlier reports that hardline immigration hawk Rep. Steve King of Iowa was set to become the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, California Congressman Elton Gallegly (R- Simi Valley) has been appointed.
In what could make California a battleground for immigration policy in the next major election, Democratic Assemblyman Tony Mendoza of California’s 56th assembly district has written an advisory measure that will allow voters to express their input on whether or not the President and Congr
As immigration reform advocates seek to shift to a more state-oriented strategy that combats the tough immigration language coming from Republicans in the 112th Congress, the chairperson of a California immigration reform group believes that the movement’s grassroots supporters have a pretty good chance of holding officials accountable in more progressive states like California.
Almost a quarter of the 2.3 million allowed to reenter the United States without proper documents came through the state of California, according to a report from the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security.
Even though the Dream Act failed in the Senate and is not likely to come up in the near future with Republicans taking the House, young proponents of the law are thinking that California could be one of the ripe states to pass provisions in the spirit of the shot-down federal bill.
The Dream Act in its current form may have been stopped with a Democratic majority in the Senate, but along with President Obama’s reaffirmed commitment to the issue this week comes the sense that Republicans in both of Houses of Congress will not be able to ignore immigration in the 112th session.
