Dean Johnson Comments for Media on Immigration Reform Bill
Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented on the immigration reform bill passed by the U.S. Senate for media including Colorlines and KCRA-TV.
Speaking to Colorlines, Dean Johnson commented on the history of U.S. immigration policy. "For years, all focus of the federal government when it comes to immigration has been on deportation, removal, fences, border control, get tough on immigrants," he said. "That's been the only thing Congress and four administrations have done for two decades."
In an interview broadcast on KCRA-TV on June 30, Dean Johnson commented on various aspects of the Senate bill, including the path to citizenship offered to undocumented immigrants and the increase in border enforcement. He also talked about the uncertain prospects for the bill's passage as it moves to the House of Representatives.
"I think the House of Representatives definitely is going to consider its own plan, and perhaps in the end we'll see some kind of a compromise between the House and the Senate on some type of immigration reform proposal," Dean Johnson said. "I like to be optimistic about the possibilities, but we just don't know at this point."
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.