Immigrant Rights Group Responds To Donnelly Announcement

Angelica Salas, executive director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, or CHIRLA, issued a statement shortly after California Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks) announced the campaign to place a referendum repealing the Dream Act had fallen short.

CHIRLA spoke out in favor of AB 131, introduced by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles). The legislation is a partner bill to AB 130, signed by Governor Jerry Brown early last year. AB 130 allows undocumented students who meet the in-state tuition requirements to apply for and receive scholarships from non-state funds. AB 131 makes it possible for qualified students to tap into public financial aid funds.

Donnelly has vowed to continue his fight.

Salas' statement is below:

“Once again, Assemblyman Donnelly has wasted an incredible amount of time and resources fighting an education bill he disagrees with instead of meeting the needs of his constituents and other Californians. 

“We wonder if Mr. Donnelly’s endless and fruitless war against immigrants should be evaluated by those who entrusted him with their vote to determine if he’s the right person to lead them into the 21st century.

“The California Dream Act is a fair, timely, and inexpensive bill that will support a limited number of financial scholarships to undocumented students who have been brought to the U.S. as children. Contrary to Mr. Donnelly’s belief, California’s large diverse population supports the merits of the legislation and looks forward to its implementation in 2013.”