Immigration Reform On The Agenda For Santa Clara County Supervisors
SAN JOSE (KCBS) - For the first time in decades, Santa Clara County Supervisors plan to take up immigration reform. The hotly debated topic is slated for discussion Tuesday.
"64% of college-educated professionals working in Silicon Valley in science and engineering positions were born outside of the United States, and this is compared to 26% nationwide. So, as far as the number of really highly educated people that we need in our workforce, certainly we need immigration reform," reasoned Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors President Ken Yeager.
Santa Clara County Supervisors To Discuss Immigration Reform
"We will be discussing a list of policies that we will adopt that we hope our congressional delegation will support as well," he explained. "And certainly first and foremost is the path to citizenship, which of course doesn't exist now."
Yeager said he and his colleagues would also explore the possibility of securing federal reimbursement for the county for services it has provided to undocumented residents.
"We are one of the most diverse areas in the world and it also is one of the reasons why we are a successful model for other counties, so we just want to keep that good thing going," Yeager said.
The supervisors were scheduled to meet to discuss immigration and other matters impacting the area at 9 a.m. on Tues. Feb. 26, at the County offices, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose.
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