By Gina Yarbrough
Sacramento, CA–In a rare show of bipartisan unity, State Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R–Yucaipa) joined fellow lawmakers from both the California Senate and Assembly in urging federal leaders to take immediate action to streamline work permit approvals for undocumented immigrants working in essential sectors of the American economy.
In a formal letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, the coalition called for the creation of an expedited federal process to issue work permits to undocumented workers, many of whom have waited more than a decade for their citizenship applications to move forward.
Senator Ochoa Bogh emphasized that the federal government must establish a permitting system that is responsive to evolving labor market needs, upholds national security standards, and enables undocumented individuals to legally participate in the economy and broader society.
“We must not overlook the value of their economic, academic, and cultural contributions,” Ochoa Bogh wrote. “Issuing work permits would allow our undocumented workforce to continue to hold legal, tax-generating jobs, and for the U.S. to remain competitive in the global economy.”
The letter references the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, including approximately 2.5 million in California alone.
Lawmakers warned that the country’s fragmented and outdated immigration system is failing to meet workforce demands and leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.
“America’s immigration system has been broken for far too long,” Ochoa Bogh stated. “It’s time for us to pursue immigration reform that aligns with the needs of our great nation.”
The letter marks a growing call from state leaders for Washington to address long-standing immigration challenges with pragmatic, bipartisan solutions.
