Several laws, and bills with price tags as high as $1 billion, show the clout of people who aren’t citizens.
They live in the country illegally. They pepper their rallies with the chant “undocumented and unafraid.” And they cannot vote.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Still, some politicians have heard their voices.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
In California, undocumented immigrants have political clout.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“Today, we remind the rest of the nation that California is different,” said state Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, in an April news conference to promote 10 bills he and others believe will help people in the country illegally.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
The proposals ranged from a $1 billion plan to extend state-subsidized health care to the undocumented, to the establishment of a new state office that would make it easier for some immigrant crime victims to avoid deportation.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Perhaps tellingly, the lawmakers discussed their proposals in a mixture of Spanish and English, with some statements presented only in Spanish, without translation.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“This package unequivocally states California’s commitment to immigrants,” said de León, D-Los Angeles.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
The proposals come on the heels of several legislative victories for the undocumented in California. Among the most prominent are driver’s licenses for all, limits on state cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and the right to become an attorney in California, regardless of one’s immigration status.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Next year, people living here illegally will be able to apply for 40 other professional or vocational licenses, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and real estate agents.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
De León skirted a question on whether undocumented immigrants now have political power in California.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“You have a sizable number of legislators that are keenly aware that for the continued economic growth of California, we need to normalize the legal status of this population,” he said.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Italia Garcia, 24, of Riverside said that even though she and other undocumented immigrants can’t vote, many of their friends and family members can, and that translates into political power.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Garcia attributes the increasing number of bills to assist undocumented immigrants to immigrants such as herself who are telling their stories and personalizing the issue.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“We can educate people who aren’t familiar with the problems we go through every day,” she said. “We live through them.”googleoff: allgoogleon: all
That not only makes the general public more understanding of issues that undocumented immigrants face, she said. It also spurs some legal residents – who can’t vote – to become citizens, and prods people who already are citizens to turn out at the polls, she said.