A bill on the horizon
Now is a special time for a large number of undocumented in California who next year will be able to obtain their driver’s license and begin the process to comply with President Barack Obama’s executive order to avoid deportation.
The number of people involved in these processes is very large. The Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that around 1.5 million people will be able to obtain their driver’s licenses, while the federal government estimates that 1.6 million people in California will benefit from Obama’s action.
Given this scenario, State Senator Ricardo Lara plans to introduce a bill in Sacramento to create an Office of New Americansas soon as the new legislative session begins on December 1.
At this point, few details are known of the proposal beyond the fact that it will be an entity to help the undocumented population with information, resources, services to prevent fraud, legal assistance, English classes and civic instruction.
At first glance, the plan is ambitious, and its cost is uncertain. When evaluating the price of this proposal, account must be taken of the fact that the 2.6 million undocumented workers in California contribute $130 million annually to the state’s gross domestic product, according to a study by the University of Southern California.
It would be normal to expect this office to help those who really need it, thus contributing to the integration and assimilation of hundreds of thousands of people who could have more productive lives in general. This is in the best interest of California’s economy.
The mere announcement of Lara’s intentions sparked criticism from those who still do not understand that in California, just under 10% of the population is undocumented, and that due to their lack of papers, their fragile situation keeps both them and our state from living up to their potential.
With this measure, Lara reaffirms his commitment to the cause of the undocumented and their integration into society. The Office of New Americans is a bill worth following
