Author: Christian Morales
According to a 2010 report by the Pew Research Hispanic Trends Project, there are one million undocumented immigrants under the age of 18 living in the United States whose fates are in jeopardy due to the ever-present threat of deportation. While the majority of the United States seems to be taking a stagnant approach to immigration reform, California’s current advance, highlighted by a slew of bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, demonstrates the state’s uniquely progressive stance in providing equal opportunities for undocumented immigrants.
Brown believes that even if immigrants have not obtained citizenship, they should still retain the right to stay in the United States. While attending the 7th Annual California Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the California Museum last March, Brown stated, “In order to avoid dire consequences for our state, comprehensive immigration reform must occur this year, and the resulting path to citizenship must be smooth and rapid.”
Brown’s strong anti-deportation sentiment has created a critical focus on undocumented immigrant rights through his immigration bills AB 60, the Trust Act and AB 1024.
The immigration bill AB 60 permits undocumented immigrants within California’s borders to obtain driver’s licenses (they are not, however, allowed to use the license as a way of traveling to another country or obtaining citizenship). Passing AB 60 will give undocumented immigrants more freedom and stronger representation in American society, both of which are largely overdue. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants deserve a form of identification in order to deter discrimination.
AB 60 also improves California’s economic conditions for undocumented workers. In addition to allowing these employees to drive to work, according to Huffington Post, the bill will also encourage undocumented immigrants to make car payments, help them qualify for auto insurance and decrease the cost required by companies to tow abandoned vehicles. Due to AB 60, undocumented immigrants will no longer have a reason to not pay their fees to the state, in turn helping the state’s economy. Society cannot continue to exploit working conditions for undocumented immigrants while refusing to acknowledge their contributions to the nation’s economy.
Brown’s other bill – the Trust Act – challenges the power of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program called Secure Communities, which mandates that local law enforcement agencies detain arrestees to check them through the ICE database for potential deportation. More specifically, the Trust Act prohibits authorities from detaining undocumented immigrants for minor offenses, ultimately preventing them from deporting immigrants for something as small as a minor traffic accident.
Additionally, undocumented victims of crimes such as sexual assault and domestic violence fear being deported if they turn to the police, even just to report information about their assailant, according to the Huffington Post. The Trust Act should dramatically decrease the violent crime in immigrant neighborhoods because it provides a safety net that lowers the fear of deportation.
The final bill, AB 1024, allows undocumented immigrants to obtain a license to practice law in California. Empowering undocumented immigrants by opening the door for professional success is further evidence that Brown has equal opportunity for California residents in mind.
Still, Brown’s AB 1024 has generated some controversy. The law blog Legal Match reports that American citizens fear AB 1024 goes against the “rules of professional responsibility and ethics.” While there continue to be mixed feelings about AB 1024, its passage proves that California is defying society’s expectations by giving undocumented immigrants the chance to improve their employment situations.
Brown’s immigration laws are forcing the United States to confront the crucial issue of whether to help undocumented immigrants. The United States should feel responsible to help all its residents, regardless of their citizenship status. California’s recent legislative efforts are an important, trailblazing step towards this ideal.
Christian Morales is an undeclared first-year. He can be reached at cmorales@oxy.edu or on Twitter at @WklyCMorales.
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