California is a Sanctuary State
Unfortunately, these circumstances do not apply to most undocumented immigrants. Most of them already have families and are here trying to support them. Those who are single are often unable to find a spouse or pay for a marriage of convenience. According to thoughtcatalog.com, a marriage of convenience starts at $12,000. Additionally, not every immigrant that comes to the U.S has a specialized skill, and most immigrants are not fortunate enough to be granted asylum. There are a large number of immigrants who do not fall under those categories, leaving them with no options to stay in the United States legally. Governor Brown’s purpose for making California a sanctuary state was to help these people that have no options, sanctioning their stay here.
Supporters of Senate Bill No. 54 believe that making California a sanctuary state will offer some protection to undocumented immigrants.
In response to recent immigration policies, Governor Jerry Brown has signed Senate Bill No. 54, declaring California a sanctuary state.
Senate Bill No. 54 “prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies, including school police and security departments, from using money or personnel to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons for immigration enforcement purposes.”
In other words, the state will not use their resources (i.e. money, police, and time) to help detain and deport undocumented immigrants. Democratic state lawmakers argue that undocumented immigrants help contribute to the economy.
There are some extreme ways for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States. These include marrying a U.S citizen, becoming sponsored by a business for a specialized skill (nurses, engineers, I.T, etc), or even seeking asylum. In special circumstances, an undocumented person could gain permanent residence if granted amnesty.
Rachel Cheung (12) stated, “It’s good that undocumented immigrants have a safe place to stay if they’re not able to find one in the other states. No human is illegal. We all have the right to live.”
While some people oppose the bill because they argue that it will not benefit American citizens and the state of California, others believe that helping people in need is the right thing to do.
Isabella Ramirez (12) stated, “Yes, [those who disapprove] are right. It’s not beneficial to American citizens, but this isn’t a country where it’s all about us. This country is supposed to be free- you are free to practice any religion you want, you are free to be however you want. It may not benefit you in particular, but it’s going to benefit something bigger than you.”
The bill starts taking effect on January 1, 2018, bringing the hope to many that the country finds peace surrounding immigration and moves forward in the journey on unification.