Governor signs bill on immigration

Gov. Brown - LGBT Weekly

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–Gov. Jerry Brown Thursday signed Assembly Bill 2532 authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D – San Francisco). AB 2532 removes anti-immigrant language from California law.

“This year’s anti-immigrant rhetoric at the national level evokes memories of the anti-immigrant Prop 187 in the 1990s here in California,” said Assemblymember Chiu. “This bill deletes anti-immigrant language from that era, removing an anti-immigrant stain on California history and eliminating unnecessary regulation.”

“Eliminating this unnecessary burden and unfortunate remnant of our state’s anti-immigrant past is an important step in continuing efforts to welcome and include all Californians in our bright California future,” said Thomas A. Saenz, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund President and General Counsel.

AB 2532 repeals the Unemployment Insurance Code Section that requires entities providing employment services to verify individuals’ legal status or authorization to work prior to providing those services. The bill also repeals the requirement for the entities to post a notice stating this policy.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) regulates the employment of and employment services for unauthorized immigrants, expressly prohibiting the hiring or recruitment or referral for a fee of unauthorized workers. Employment agents who “recruit or refer for a fee,” must check work authorization, as must employers. Therefore, Unemployment Insurance Code Section 9601.5, and the accompanied requirement to post a related notice, is redundant to federal law.

AB 2532 does not change any legal work eligibility requirements. Federal law continues to require verification of an individual’s legal status or authorization to work before hiring or providing employment services to the individual for a fee.  This measure simply removes redundant and conflicting state law and removes the threat of potential litigation.

“California has prospered because of our rich immigrant history,” said Chiu.

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