Sacramento Snapshot: Bipartisan group of California legislators lays out immigration reform polices

In a political climate where it seems those on opposite sides of the aisle find it difficult to agree on much, a bipartisan group of legislators came together last week to say they concur on various “principles” for, of all things, immigration reform.

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Immigration policy has been a contentious and complicated task for lawmakers for several years — that’s not new.

But in recent weeks, with the federal government ramping up immigration enforcement operations across the country, including in Southern California, the challenge is underscored even more.

On Wednesday, July 2, a cohort of Republicans and Democrats who make up the bipartisan California Problem Solvers Caucus in Sacramento, though, said there are several core principles they agree on when it comes to immigration.

Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients, they said during an event outside the statehouse, “have contributed greatly to California’s culture and economy for decades.” And many undocumented immigrants are long-term residents of their California communities who work essential jobs and could contribute even more if they were granted legal status, they said.

A pathway to legal status should exist for undocumented workers who are not threats to public safety, they said.

And due process “is a foundational value of our democracy,” they said.

But the legislators also agreed that a secure border is crucial to combating drug and human trafficking and strengthening the country’s national security.

Assemblymembers Laurie Davies, R-Laguna Niguel; Diane Dixon, R-Newport Beach; and Blanca Pacheco, D-Downey, are part of the California Problem Solvers Caucus.

The legislators said they are working in tandem with the congressional Problem Solvers Caucus to advocate for their shared immigration principles.

“For too long, federal inaction has left our communities in limbo,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego. “These principles lay the groundwork for real solutions — securing the border, honoring due process and providing a path to legal status for those who have earned it. It’s time for Washington to do its job.”

“These bipartisan principles strike a balance between securing the border and recognizing the value that hardworking immigrants bring to our economy,” said Assemblymember Josh Hoover, R-Folsom. “California can’t solve this alone — Washington must lead.”

Click here to read the full article in the OC Register