California Attorney General says undocumented immigrants also have rights

A welcoming message from California Attorney General Xavier Bacerra on his first visit to Salinas: “I hope as a son of immigrants, that I can show to any family that if you work hard in California, we want you.”

But Joan Marquez, also a son of immigrants, is still worried.

“…that I cannot live with my parents anymore,” Marquez said.

Being separated from family is one of the biggest fears among many undocumented parents and their kids.

“If they go back to Mexico, I want to go with them,” Marquez told his parents..

Monterey County supervisor Luis Alejo is fighting to prevent that from happening.

“In case there was a situation where parents were separated from children, by preparing documents in advance, it could really avoid the headache of going through foster care,” Alejo said.

During Monday’s forum, he and other leaders said they’re working to keep families together.

‘I intend to get up in the morning and go to work, representing you, defending you, and I’m going to make them good days,” Becerra said.

And to Marquez, a good day means when he doesn’t have to worry about losing his parents.

“When I grow up, I want to make papers so they could come over here and live with me,” Marquez said.

Also at the forum, DMV officials recommended undocumented immigrants get their driver’s license through the AB60 bill that passed in 2013, because their status will not be share with law enforcement.