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www.disabilityrightsca.org
March 30, 2021 
Honorable Thomas J. Umberg
Chair, Judiciary Committee 
California State Senate
State Capitol Room 5097
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SJR 2 (Hueso) as introduced March 8, 2021 – SUPPORT
Dear Senator Umberg: 
Disability Rights California (DRC), a non-profit advocacy organization that advances and protects the rights of Californians with disabilities, supports SJR 2. This resolution is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 7, 2021. 
Immigrant populations have grown dramatically in recent years. Immigrants contribute to the American way of life in many ways.  Presidents and Congressional leaders have stated that the immigration system will improve while they are in office.  Meanwhile, the American system of immigration has largely failed people and communities with outdated reforms enacted 30 years ago. 
There are approximately 2.5 million undocumented people in California.  Immigrants deserve to have a credible opportunity to live safely in the United States. Many undocumented people with disabilities have had challenging experiences, physically and psychologically.  These people all deserve to have a logical pathway to citizenship, earn an education, work tax paying jobs, and strive for the American Dream. DRC released a recent report titled “The Detention of Immigrant Children with Disabilities in California: A Snapshot.” DRC opposes cruel and inhumane immigration policies including separation and/ or indefinite detention of immigration families. These policies are especially harmful to immigrants with disabilities. Immigration detention facilities have been detrimentally harmful against disabled people. DRC works with many protection and advocacy agencies under the leadership of the National Disability Rights Network. DRC has full monitoring access to shelters and facilities and has discovered detrimental circumstances for people. Immigration policies must address the inhumane treatment of undocumented people and provide a plan for these people, once they are in the United States, to achieve their American Dream. 
President Joe Biden unveiled a plan for comprehensive immigration reform, emphasizing the need for a timely and nuanced response to our currently defective immigration system. Immigrants with disabilities should receive the same supports as non-disabled people.
For these reasons, Disability Rights California supports SJR 2.  
Sincerely,

Eric Harris
Director of Public Policy 
Disability Rights California
CC	Honorable Members, Senate Judiciary Committee
	Honorable Ben Hueso, California State Senate
	Elmer Lizardi, Office of Senator Hueso
	Morgan Branch, Policy Consultant, Senate Republican Caucus