Los Angeles Times (California):
By Chris Megerian
September 20, 2015
The
California Republican Party voted Sunday to soften its stance on
immigration, responding to harsh rhetoric from presidential candidate
Donald Trump.
Republicans
have been struggling to find a balance between appealing to the Golden
State's growing Latino population and satisfying its base of white
conservatives. The
problem has grown more pressing with Trump, a New York real estate
mogul, soaring to the top of the primary polls while advocating a
crackdown on illegal immigration.
The
changes say Republicans "hold diverse views" on "what to do with the
millions of people who are currently here illegally." The wording of the
amendment was tweaked
after a Saturday committee meeting, which used the phrase "otherwise
law-abiding folks" instead of "people."
Although
the new language emphasizes opposition to "amnesty," it removes the
statement that "allowing illegal immigrants to remain in California
undermines respect for
the law."
The
changes were proposed by a Latino party official from Fresno, Marcelino
Valdez, who said it was a reaction to Trump's "offensive" comments on
immigrants.
It's important to use "language that is more appealing to California's diverse electorate," Valdez said.
In
a statement after the vote, he called it "an anti-Proposition 187
plank," referring to the controversial 1994 ballot measure that would
have prevented immigrants in
the country illegally from receiving public services. It was
invalidated by federal courts, but not before it helped drive Latinos
away from the Republican Party.
Jon Fleischman, a conservative blogger and party delegate, spoke against the change on Saturday by calling it too ambiguous.
But he voted for it on Sunday after the phrase "otherwise law-abiding folks" was removed.
"You can't be law-abiding while you're breaking the law," he said.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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