As California continues to face a sizable budget deficit, the Governor and elected officials face exceedingly difficult decisions on balancing the budget. Although immigrants contribute roughly one-third of our state's GDP, some leaders have targeted the state's safety net services and programs available to immigrants and their families.
PuBLIc benefits and immigrants
Programs critical to maintaining a safety net for immigrant workers and their families include the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), Medi-Cal and CalWORKs (please click on the links for more information on each program).
The Cost of Cutting Immigrant Programs: Illness, Hunger & Homelessness
A recent CIPC report concludes that cutting public benefit programs will not serve California well by increasing homelessness, emergency room use and putting vulnerable seniors, the disabled and children at risk. Rather, California must invest in its future by finding creative solutions to the budget crisis without targeting core services for working families.
monthly UPDATES
Governor Brown Sign 2012-2013 Budget
May 2012: May Revise Update
January 2012: Governor Brown Releases Budget Early; Includes Devastating Cuts!
November 2011 - Budget Update from Statewide Call
STATEWIDE ADVOCACY
CIPC participates in several statewide efforts to protect state-funded programs and services available to immigrants and their families, including:
For information and to take action in our advocacy to protect public benefits for lawful immigrants in California, please see our Budget Action page.
Resources
Public Benefits:
Budget: