California Legislature Call on Congress to Take Action on Immigration Reform
Sacramento, CA – The California Legislature adopted Senate Joint Resolution 8 by Senator Jesse Arreguín (D-Oakland) and Assembly Joint Resolution 17 by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez (D-San Fernando Valley), twin resolutions that call on Congress to pass the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 after decades of inaction.
The Federal Immigration Registry provides a provision for long-term undocumented residents to apply for permanent legal status. While the Registry has been updated with bipartisan support multiple times since its inception in 1929, the last update was 40 years ago, which had a cutoff date of people who entered the country before January 1, 1972. The provision for relief to long-term residents has become virtually unusable because Congress has not updated it since 1986. Two bills have been introduced in Congress - HR 1511 by Representative Zoe Lofgran (D-CA 18) and S. 2606 by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), to update the Federal Immigration Registry.
“California has long recognized that America is a nation of immigrants and our diversity is our strength,” said State Senator Jesse Arreguin. “Until we can adopt comprehensive immigration reform, this resolution calls on Congress to create a clear legal pathway to allow immigrants who have long contributed to our communities to finally get legal residency.”
“We must have an immigration system that recognizes the contributions of immigrants who have built their lives, raised their families, and who are part of the very fabric of our communities across California,” said Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez. “With Assembly Joint Resolution 17 and Senate Joint Resolution 8, we urge Congress to modernize the federal immigration registry to create a fairer pathway to lawful permanent residency. Our country benefits when immigrant families have greater stability and opportunities and are able to continue to contribute to our communities without fear or uncertainty. Today, we send a clear message that California supports an immigration system that is humane, fair, and just.”
California is home to an estimated 2.3 million undocumented residents. One in ten workers in California are undocumented immigrants, who collectively contribute $51.4 billion in state and local taxes. These are not temporary members of our communities. They are our neighbors, coworkers, small business owners, caregivers, and parents. They are part of the fabric that holds California’s powerful economy together.
If Congress takes action, the Federal Registry bills supported by this resolution would replace the outdated cutoff with a requirement that an individual have lived continuously in the United States for at least seven years before they may apply for lawful permanent residency.
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