By: The Times Editorial Board
Late on the last night of the legislative session, California lawmakers passed a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. If the bill is signed by the governor, it will be an important and long-overdue step forward that will enhance public safety.
By: Christopher Cadelago & Jeremy White
In the waning hours of the 2013 legislative session, the Assembly on Thursday sent Gov. Jerry Brown a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to receive driver’s licenses.
The surprise 55-19 vote moved California a signature away from putting into law a measure that immigrant advocates have sought fruitlessly for years, with past attempts thwarted by legislative vote and gubernatorial veto.
By: Patrick McGreevy & Melanie Mason
SACRAMENTO — Laboring late into the night Thursday to finish their work for the year, state lawmakers acted to allow many more immigrants who are in the country illegally to obtain California driver's licenses, a measure Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign.
By: Jennifer Medina
LOS ANGELES — California is challenging the historic status of American citizenship with measures to permit noncitizens to sit on juries and monitor polls for elections in which they cannot vote and to open the practice of law even to those here illegally. It is the leading edge of a national trend that includes granting drivers’ licenses and in-state tuition to illegal immigrants in some states and that suggests legal residency could evolve into an appealing option should immigration legislation fail to produce a path to citizenship.
By: Michael Gardner
SACRAMENTO — California Democrats this year advanced an aggressive agenda to expand immigrant rights with support from a handful of Republicans intent on rebuilding the party’s image among Latinos that has suffered ever since the ferocious fight over Proposition 187 nearly two decades ago.
By: Julio Morales
Calling the need for comprehensive immigration reform one of “highest importance,” members of the state’s Latino Legislative Caucus convened an informational briefing last week that highlighted how the state would be impacted by reform, or by the failure to approve such legislation.
The briefing included a diverse body of stakeholders, including representatives of labor, agriculture, the high tech and building industry, as well as policy analysts.
By: Araceli Martínez Ortega
SACRAMENTO -- El caso de Sergio García, un inmigrante indocumentado que no puede ejercer a pesar de haber aprobado el examen de la Barra de Abogados de California, movilizó a los legisladores para presentar de última hora un proyecto de ley que permita a la Corte Suprema del Estado admitir a los abogados que llenen los requisitos sin importar su estatus migratorio.
By: Tatiana Sanchez
California Gov. Jerry Brown joined Senator Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, and Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, for a forum on comprehensive immigration reform Tuesday, hosted by the state’s Latino Legislative Caucus.
The forum covered the historical aspect of immigration and provided an analysis of comprehensive immigration reform from policy experts, business leaders and community organizers, according to Perez’s office.
By: Kevin Parrish
STOCKTON - Susan Eggman is having the time of her life and working hard at it.
Not since former state Sen. Patrick Johnston, D-Stockton, left office 13 years ago has San Joaquin County had such an outspoken advocate in the California Legislature.
Eggman, a 52-year-old Democrat, was sworn into the California Assembly eight months ago - and immediately found herself involved in leadership in Sacramento.
By: Patrick McGreevy
The subject was illegal immigration, and Ricardo Lara, head of the Legislature's Latino Caucus, was livid.
Lara, then a Democratic Assemblyman from Bell Gardens, wanted to grant driver's licenses to some undocumented Californians. A Republican lawmaker was objecting.
Some of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists used driver's licenses to get through security checkpoints and board planes they later flew into the World Trade Center, said Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks).
