California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

While the DREAM Act failed on a national stage, California State Democrats would like to skirt federal law and provide a pathway to citizenship for those who are illegally residing in the Golden State.
State Assembly Bill 78, written by Tony Mendoza (D-Norwalk) seeks to put an advisory measure on the state ballot asking California voters if they think the United States is responsible to grant amnesty to longtime illegal aliens currently living unlawfully inside America.
The Democrat’s proposed “pathway to citizenship bill” would give illegal aliens who have worked in the U.S. for five years, have no felony convictions, speak English and are current with all their taxes a chance to legalize their status.
The bill’s author, Mendoza claims the illegal immigration debate is front-page news across the country and says the nation's "broken immigration system" requires an overhaul that "rewards work, reunites families, restores the rule of law, reinforces immigrant workers and redeems the 'American Dream.'"
The Southern California Democrat hopes the measure will qualify for California’s statewide primary election in June 2012.
http://www.examiner.com/county-polit...-grant-amnesty

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

"have worked in the U.S. for five years"
...

this is like Dream act but for those in their 50s 60s

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

They should let undocumented get driver licenses in CA. If Mexico was able to do it why can't we? This should bring a flood of revenue for California and the stupid DMV wont have to close on weird days.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

What if you once lived in CA and then moved elsewhere?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

its impossible, immigration reform can only come from the fed not the states!!!! states CANNOT grant citizenship.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Where does that say?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Nice...

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Oh and who would stop us? Obama ?? Nigga please.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Wait? but this is no Dream Act....This would pretty much apply to any person who meets the requirements. Naaaaw thats less votes. Dream Act!!

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

They might not be able to give citizenship, but if they can give drivers licenses, hell yeah!

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Is there a consensus on how to test English speaking skills? I've heard a lot of talk about making people speak English, but no fair way to measure it.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

California is also planing on introducing it's own DA.... Californias DA would also seek to grant legal status to undocumented students.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

So do you have to be living in CA for a certain time?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

How long do you have to be living there to qualify?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

The bill hasn't been introduced yet. Today is the first day in session.

I suspect you have to be an AB540 student to qualify!!!!

If you meet the requirements of the AB540 bill odds are you will qualify!!!!!

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

States cannot give citizenship to anyone its Federal law that does that. This is the deal in Arizona right now state laws against federal law can the state of Arizona apprehend illegals using certain processes or do they fall under federal jurisdiction. Which immigration all forms is under Federal law.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Don't tell me, Tell the Californian legislature and Governor Brown.

Stop sounding like an anti and go with it!!!!!!!!

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Haters love to hate!!

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

The article doesn't say that California will grant legalization to undocumented people. What this bill would do is ask the people of California if the United States Congress and President should create a pathway to citizenship.
Here's a link to the bill. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/...ntroduced.html

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

No that is what has been going on here for the past nine years people pulling other people along without any facts then watch as there crushed. Factual information is the only way not to play people and misguide there efforts to things that are not going to work. I read on "the hill" comment blog that there were people on there saying Californians are ready to succeed from the union over this issue do you really no how much anit hate that will bring just for going along with it? Succession last time those words were in we had a civil War.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

I agree. I think if this California proposal were to become law it would immediately be challenged.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

All I need is a work permit... I hope this thing passes so I can get started in my career... No need to move outside CA if this thing passes.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Is there a draft of the bill?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Is there a draft of the bill?

Ok what if someone graduated from a CA high school and already graduated from a CA state university and then later moved out to a different state?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Lol, by who? Obama and his staff would not sue, they support a bill like this.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

A example of this is happening right now in California Gay marriage the majority of the people voted against it in California. But now the Gay activist took that to the Supreme court because a state cannot make such laws that are discriminatory in action. Same thing will eventually have to be done with immigration but on this particular issue if California did pass this is would be put on hold and sent to the supreme court.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Mhzzz I think you are assuming that we live in a society where everyone favors legalization bills. Think about it my friend. Have you heard of the organization called FAIR? FAIR would be one opponent that could take this court where it would probably get the hypothetically-passed law struck down. FAIR is just one example. Enough said.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Can you guys please confirm this. Family and I came to california Legally under E2 business visa back in 1999.
At 2010 january our visa got rejected from renewal because of we turned in tax a day late, but now we are caught up in the tax money. We have been working here since 1999 and at 2004 we opened up our own restaurnt and worked there.

Do you guys think my parents will be eligible for this act? even if we became illegal last year, but we are up in our taxes, and have been working +5 years in califorina.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Doubt it. Did not happen in 1986 nor the 245i.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

Mind guys that I am totally for CIR, but on the question of states being able to grant citizenship the answer is likely no, since citizenship is a federal jurisdiction. Arizona's law is very likely to be defeated, but that isn't stopping its current anti- CIR zealot of governor from making the intent of the defeated law a recommendation when law enforcement suspects a person is an undocumented immigrant.
Although this is definitely good news, it is kind of cynical how late this proposal came. Now that dems got their tails kicked in the elections, it looks like they are courting certain part of vote pool for the upcoming 2012 elections.
And really, would this apply for those that lived 5+ years out of California but relocated to CA after the good news?

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

True. The problem: this bill is a state proposal. The 1986 reform package and 245i occurred at the national level. Just like pro-immigrant coalitions legally challenged Arizona's SB1070 law, anti-immigrant organizations will legally challenge this state version of legalization. What happened after AB 540 was signed into law in California?

Look. If nothing gets done at the national level by 2012 in terms CIR, I hope this California proposal becomes a reality and opponents fail in their legal suits like they did with California's AB 540 law. One way or another, I hope all of us are ultimately able to become legal and live out our dreams.

Re: California wants to give Legal status to the undocumented
 

I think the majority of the Arizona bill will pass they have already thrown out 6 of 8 law sued trying to stop and big parts of the 2 remaining law sueds. Arizona SB1070 is about states being able to uphold Federal immigration laws that are on the books. Again if you are a dreamer you want Arizona bill to pass you want all the legislation that will put a stop immigration passed that way the voter can see that this will not happen again.