Thread: As the world awaits travel ban ruling, California lawmakers introduce bill to help re

As the world awaits travel ban ruling, California lawmakers introduce bill to help refugees

February 8, 2017 at 12:11 pm | UPDATED: February 8, 2017 at 12:20 pm



SACRAMENTO – California Democrats — quick to counter President Trump’s immigration crackdowns with resolutions and legislative proposals — are responding to the administration’s travel ban with a package of bills to provide in-state tuition and other benefits to refugees who resettle in the state.

State lawmakers announced the “California Welcomes Refugees” legislation on Wednesday as the world awaits the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on President Trump’s controversial order to temporarily bar the admission of refugees and suspend immigration from seven predominately Muslim countries. On Friday, a federal judge in Seattle temporarily lifted the ban.

The San Francisco-based appellate panel heard arguments Tuesday, and Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that he awaited what “should be EASY D” — a line that instantly became a social media meme.

Big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017

The California legislation, its sponsors said in a news release, “pushes back on religious and racially charged hate rhetoric from the federal government that has sought to limit refugees and other legal immigrants from entering the United States.”

Assemblymembers Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento; Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego; and Adrin Nazarian, D-Sherman Oaks are sponsoring the package. It would offer refugees in-state tuition at public colleges and give priority enrollment to those who entered the country on special immigrant visas, such as those who served in the U.S. military or state department in Iraq or Afghanistan.

McCarty also says he will request a one-time, $5 million budget infusion for schools in counties with high populations of child refugees.

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CALIFORNIA’S REFUGEE BILLS

Assembly Bill 343 would allow refugees to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. It also would give priority enrollment to refugees on special immigrant visas, such as those who served as translators and interpreters in Iraq and Afghanistan; California veterans receive a similar benefit.

Assembly Bill 349 will help refugees on special immigrant visas to apply relevant work experience from overseas to a professional license.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/08/as-the-world-awaits-travel-ban-ruling-california-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-help-refugees/

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I think that's unconstitutional. Isn't that favoritism to a specific ethnic origin? Doesn't that violate the 14th Amendment? I think so!!