California is home to the largest immigrant population in the country. More than one in four Californians were born abroad. While California is home to newcomers from all over the world, the leading countries of origin are Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, and El Salvador. California also attracts people from such places as Taiwan, Iran, Italy, Russia, and Somalia.
More than one in five people in San Diego County were born abroad. They come to rejoin their families, meet our employment needs, or flee persecution in their home countries. Their hard work ethic and family values stimulate our economy and make our communities stronger.
The more invested our newcomers are in San Diego, the more they contribute to our economy, our safety, and our well-being. In turn, the more we support immigrant families and integrate immigrants into our communities, schools, and businesses, the more able we are to improve the quality of life for everyone in the county.
Through this website, the Immigrant Rights Consortium--made up faith, labor, legal and community organizations--seeks to educate the public about immigrants and to support immigrants in San Diego County in their path to become new Americans.
As we have for more than 200 years, this nation draws its strength from the continuous contributions of new Americans. In a time of rising hatred towards immigrants and heated debate over immigration reform, the Immigrant Rights Consortium is a chorus of voices encouraging everyone in San Diego County to stand up for the very immigrants who make us stronger.
Copyright 2007. All Rights Reserved. www.immigrantsandiego.com
San Diego Immigrants and New Americans
A Project of the San Diego County Immigrant Rights Consortium
What do San Diego County voters think about undocumented immigrants and immigration reform?
In June 2007, a well-respected research firm surveyed a cross-section of county voters. Despite being uncertain about how undocumented immigrants impact their lives, a majority of voters believe that undocumented immigrants have strong family values, are people of faith, and have a strong work ethic.
An overwhelming majority of voters agreed that undocumented immigrants are mostly trying to make a better life for themselves and their families. Two-thirds of voters agreed that it's impractical to talk about sending back the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
When asked about specific immigration reform proposals, a majority of voters expressed support for creating a path to earned legalization for the undocumented, for increasing the number of family visas, and for providing visas to immigrant workers with full labor protections.
Voters also expressed support for reasonable border enforcement, but they opposed the building of a wall the entire length of the border.
