Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

America is strong because we are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants are an integral part of our communities and are a major reason why Los Angeles is one of the best places in the country to live, work and play.

Unfortunately, our immigration system is outdated and broken, and it is time to fix it. Karen co-sponsored comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would provide a path to citizenship to many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the America today and prevent the continued record deportations that has led to many children being forced into our nation's child welfare system instead of staying with their parents. Karen co-sponsored the Vulnerable Immigrant Voice Act to ensure unaccompanied children have access to legal representation during immigration proceedings.

Karen strongly supports President Obama's executive actions to enable undocumented parents whose children are U.S. citizens to stay in the United States and his action to enable DREAMers to stay in the United States to attend college or serve America in the military.

In the legislature, Karen supported efforts to ensure that undocumented immigrants could have access to a driver's license, and as Speaker of the Assembly Karen worked to ensure that California DREAMers could attend college and pay in-state tuition.

Karen will continue to oppose Republican attempts to overturn President Obama's executive actions and will continue to push Republicans in Congress to take up comprehensive immigration reform. It is good for our families and good for our country.

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