WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and these principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence the self-evident truth that all persons are created equal; and

WHEREAS, The United States was and continues to be built by people of all ethnic, racial, gender, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds and is celebrated for its tolerance, diversity, and freedom; and

WHEREAS, California is home to the largest population of immigrants in the United States whose contributions help to drive this state to be the most economically successful and prosperous in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants continue to develop and expand businesses, innovate, strengthen our economy, and create jobs in California; and

WHEREAS, A study by the University of California, Los Angeles, states that legalizing the status of undocumented immigrants working and living in the United States would create approximately $1.5 trillion in additional gross domestic product growth over the next 10 years and increase wages for all workers; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants fundamentally enrich the extraordinary character of our nation with their unique cultures, heritages, and experiences; and

WHEREAS, California’s short-term and long-term economic and social health, security, and prosperity require policies that allow individuals to become legal and enfranchised participants in our society and economy; and

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of California has officially recognized the value and importance of immigrants in California through the unanimous, bipartisan support of Senate Joint Resolution 2 and Senate Resolution 35; and

WHEREAS, The California State Legislature has engaged in thoughtful, respectful discourse on immigration and other challenging issues, often uniting in bipartisan support and always respecting the diverse individual views and beliefs of the membership and of the people they represent; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, the United States has experienced many historic changes promoting civil rights and progressive social change throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, the United States has also experienced tragic events that remind us that more work is needed to achieve equality and justice for all persons; and

WHEREAS, Recent events throughout the country have moved the nation to engage in meaningful public dialogue on issues including racial equality, gender equality, LGBT equality, immigration, and other civil rights; and

WHEREAS, Negative, demonizing, and stereotypical rhetoric has no place in the national political discourse; and

WHEREAS, Racist, hateful speech can incite severe and tragic consequences; and

WHEREAS, Aspiring national leaders, in particular, have a responsibility to engage the public on immigration reform and other issues in a thoughtful and respectful way without disparaging or negatively stereotyping communities or individuals; and

WHEREAS, Presidential candidates including Donald Trump have unfairly demonized and falsely blamed undocumented immigrant families for a range of problems and challenges facing the United States; and

WHEREAS, Presidential candidate Donald Trump recently stated that, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists,”; now, therefore, be it