Californians Join A Nationwide Call For Immigration Reform Now

In California there will be a week of action drawing attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform with regional events in San Diego, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, and Oakland. These events will take place from March 17 to March 24 to represent the desire for comprehensive immigration reform. A national march for immigration reform in Washington DC will take place on March 21.

One in four Californians is an immigrant, a higher proportion than in any other state. California is also the primary destination for immigrants entering the U.S. Fixing our nation's broken immigration system is long overdue, for California and the nation-- we need real solutions that reflect our values and move us forward, together. We need a system that is fair and effective for everyone.

Every year, the federal government spends billions of taxpayer dollars on border walls and technology, detention systems, and the deportation of people who are here primarily to work and make a better life for themselves and their families. There are no avenues for obtaining lawful status in this country for most people here without documents. Immigration reform is needed now, and could help to ease our economic crisis.

If the Senate immigration reform bill had become law in 2006, the Congressional Budget Office estimates it would have generated $66 billion in new income and payroll taxes from 2007-2016.

Besides adding to the base of taxpayers to help state and local governments, comprehensive immigration reform would help strengthen the rule of law, level the playing field in the workplace, reduce illegal immigration and reward businesses that play by the rules.

Why tackle immigration reform now when Congress has so many other issues before them? How will allowing more people to become US Citizens affect the job market? What impact will Comprehensive Immigration Reform have on our economy, our social services, our communities?