FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2015
CONTACT
Adela de la Torre, 213-400-7822, [email protected]
GOLDEN STATE LEADS THE WAY
As Washington is Mired in Partisan Bickering, California and Other States Take Steps toward Policies to Improve Life for All Residents
LOS ANGELES — California Governor Jerry Brown marked the end of the 2015 legislative session by approving a series of bills designed to create a more inclusive health care system, improve our criminal justice system, make the workplace fairer, and protect civil rights for all Californians. Below is a statement from Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the Los Angeles–based National Immigration Law Center:
“One need only look at the California legislature to be reminded that policy, especially when it affects the lives of working families, matters. Immigrant youth in the Golden State will soon have access to crucial health coverage, regardless of their immigration status. All workers—regardless of their status or the color of their skin—will enjoy new protections against wage theft. And all Californians will be better protected from the harmful effects of racial profiling.
“These are just a few of the commonsense policies that will have a profound impact on our workplaces and make our communities healthier. There is, however, much left to be done. While California’s children may no longer be denied health coverage unjustly, immigrant parents continue to live one accident or illness away from total financial devastation.
“Californians have long advocated for an inclusive state that values the contributions of all its residents. This year’s legislative session took us several steps closer to the fulfilment of this important vision. We look forward to continuing to work with advocates and policymakers across the country to enact state and local policies that improve the lives of our community members on a daily basis.”
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More information about California’s expansion of access to health care is available atwww.nilc.org/document.html?id=1257.
Overview of Immigrant Eligibility for Federal Programs (Table)
Updated Oct 15, 2026 This table provides an overview of immigrant eligibility for the major federal public assistance programs. Originally published in November 2015.
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