Dean Johnson Comments on Immigration for Contra Costa Times, Bee
Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented on immigration issues for recent stories in the Contra Costa Times and Sacramento Bee.
Speaking to the Times, Dean Johnson said that despite the prominence of immigration issues in recent gubernatorial debates, it is unlikely that California's next governor will have much impact on immigration policies.
"There's a limited amount that a California governor can do when it comes to immigration," he said. "The governor could sort of use the bully pulpit to rile people up or calm people down on immigration, but as a practical, legal matter, their role is limited."
Dean Johnson also commented for the Bee on the U visa, a relatively new program that rewards undocumented immigrants who are victims or witnesses of certain crimes and who help in the investigation and prosecution of those crimes. Because the public is much more aware of anti-immigration measures such as Arizona's SB 1070 than the U visa program, undocumented immigrants "are going to try to avoid dealing with police at all cost," said Dean Johnson. "They are not even going to hear about the U visa."
Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.