Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, wrote two of the bills supported by immigrant rights groups. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press / May 16, 2013)
By Patrick McGreevy
May 20, 2013, 10:24 a.m.
Hoping to build on momentum for changing the country’s immigration laws, busloads of immigrants from throughout California are descending on Sacramento on Monday to push for a half dozen bills at the state level.
About 500 immigrants from as far away as San Diego are expected to participate in Monday’s 17th annual Immigrant Day, meeting with lawmakers and their staffs to advocate for priority bills, according to Reshma Shamasunder, executive director of the California Immigrant Policy Center.
“As immigration reform picks up unprecedented momentum, a critical mass of Californians now recognize that immigrants are a fundamental part of the fabric of our state and nation,” Shamasunder said in a statement.
Bills supported by the group include AB 4, the Trust Act, which limits the ability of local law enforcement officers to hold criminal suspects for deportation.
That bill is by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), as is AB 241, which would provide workplace protections for domestic workers.
The advocates also support AB 60, which would greatly expand the number of illegal immigrants eligible to get a state driver’s license by qualifying them if they have documentation showing they have paid taxes.
“If our legislators and governor embrace the ‘One California’ platform and curb painful deportations, protect workers and champion inclusion and participation, then 2013 can be the ‘year of the immigrant,’ from Sacramento to Washington, D.C.,” Shamasunder said.