The New Immigration and Public Policy Debates

Prop. 187 Would have denied Social Services to "Illegal" Immigrants in California, though a court ruling prevented its implementation.

• Why did it target Latino/a and Asian Immigrants?
• Lipsitz argues that real point of 187 was to Build White Racial Solidarity and to Prevent Black-Immigrant Coalitions
• It also served to Mask the causes of declining Social Services by Blaming Fiscal Woes on Immigrants, even though immigrants pay far more in taxes than they receive from social service programs. In Lipsitz's view, the real cause of the decline lies in tax reforms that appeased upper-income taxpayers by depriving local and county government's of a sufficient tax base.
• Finally, It reflected the anxiety that white middle-class voters felt as a result of the state's growing economic dependence on Immigrant Labor to fill low-wage jobs in the state's tourist, service, and low-wage industrial sectors.

The Backlash Against Bilingualism

• Miami as the First Bilingual City
• English Only is Backlash Against "Enlightened Assimilation" of Latino/a Immigrants

* The Backlash movement reflected resentment at growth of latino/a (Cuban) political power, at the growth of Latino/a businesses, and at the fact that increasing numbers of government jobs began to require spanish proficiency.

• Spread to Other States with High Rates of Latino/a Immigration
• Despite Electoral Victory, Anti-Bilingualism Can't Overcome Continued Immigration and the Growth of Immigrant Political and Economic Power.