SYLMAR (CBSLA.com/AP) — Calling immigration a key issue in the presidential race, Hillary Clinton at a Sylmar campaign stop Saturday attacked Donald Trump for talking in “hateful, very prejudicial, really unacceptable ways.”
“Immigration is at the center of this presidential campaign,” Clinton said to the crowd at Mission College. “In my first 100 days I will introduce legislation for comprehensive immigration reform.”
In her criticism of the likely Republican nominee, Clinton said that when he “talks about deporting 11 million immigrants, he’s talking about ripping apart families.”
Clinton listened to the personal experiences of several immigrants in a largely Asian and Latino crowd, some of whom talked to KCAL9’s Greg Mills about their immigrant experiences.
“I can tell you my dad is very patriotic and one of the most patriotic undocumented immigrants that I know,” said Italia Garcia, an undocumented immigrant who came to the U.S. with her parents when she was 10.
Justina Aguilar, a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, said she paid her way through college.
“I actually paid for my schooling out-of-pocket,” she said.
Another student said she’s qualified for scholarships and grants available to undocumented immigrants pursuing higher education.
“I was able to get scholarships and grants through DACA,” said Clara Kim, an undocumented immigrant from South Korea who attends Azusa Pacific College.
DACA — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — and DAPA — Deferred Action for Parents of Americans — allow children and parents to avoid deportation if they meet certain requirements.
Clinton underscored her support for those programs at the event.
Aguilar and the other undocumented students at the event said they were committed to Clinton, too. However, like millions of other undocumented immigrants, they will not be able to vote in next week’s primary or the general election.
The Sylmar event was the first of the day for Clinton, who like her rival in California’s Democratic primary Tuesday, was holding multiple LA-area events Saturday.
