Senate Backs 'Freedom Ride' Planned to Improve Immigrant Workers' Status

The Senate is the first state legislative body in the country to back the "Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride," which will leave from nine cities at the end of September and converge in Washington, D.C., and New York in October.

Freedom ride organizers plan to highlight five issues as they travel across the country: legalizing undocumented workers currently in the U.S., allowing them to file for citizenship, reunifying all immigrant workers with their families, improving workplace conditions and protecting civil rights.

The joint Senate-Assembly resolution, presented by Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), called immigrants "essential to the state's economic growth" and stated that "the security of our state is best protected when no one is forced to live in fear because of his or her immigration status."

The endorsement of the freedom ride and its goals passed 32 to 12 and now goes to the Assembly, where it is likely to be approved.

Sen. Bob Margett (R-Arcadia), who voted against the resolution, thinks it sends the wrong message. Although Margett said he believes the immigration system needs reform, he does not agree that anxiety about immigrants' status threatens state security.

He also objected to the resolution's implied support of illegal immigration.

Margett said that if the endorsement "comes from the Senate floor, it shouldn't be quite so controversial."

The endorsement broadens the immigration discussion between states and the federal government, said Ann Morse, who analyzes immigration policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Although states used to focus on federal funding for immigrants, she said, "What is new is for states to look at civil rights and

But more legislatures may need to back the Freedom Ride before Congress or the president will champion immigration reform, said Demetrios Papademetriou, co-director of the Migration Policy Institute.

Although President Bush seemed poised to change immigration policy before Sept. 11, the issue has languished.

"I don't think the political moment is here," Papademetriou said.

Freedom Ride supporters, meanwhile, cheered the state Senate endorsement.