RALLY, PARTY VIE FOR TIME CALIFORNIA DAY IN D.C.Byline: Bill Hillburg Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - While lawmakers on Wednesday celebrated California's admission as a state 150 years ago, activists rallied in support of a bill that would admit more immigrants to the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . More than 200 activists organized by the Los Angeles-based Salvadoran American Salvadoran Americans, or Salvadorian Americans, are residents of the United States of Salvadoran descent. As of 2005 there are roughly 1.24 million Salvadoran Americans in the United States, the fourth largest Hispanic community by nation of ancestry. National Network demanded passage of the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, a Senate bill that would grant legal alien status to Salvadorans, Hondurans and Gutemalans left out of a 1997 amnesty. At the same time, California's congressional delegation marked the anniversary of Admission Day - Sept. 9, 1850 - when the state joined the union. House members at an Admission Day party - including Republican Reps. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon of Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, , David Dreier David Timothy Dreier (born July 5, 1952), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since January 1981, representing California's 26th congressional district (map). He was first elected to the U.S. House at age 28 in 1980. of Covina, Jerry Lewis of Redlands and Stephen Horn of Long Beach - declined comment on the amnesty issue. Rep. Xavier Becerra Xavier Becerra (born January 26 1958), an American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1993, representing California's 31st congressional district (map), which is based in Los Angeles. , D-Los Angeles, skipped the state birthday party to speak at the rally and predicted passage of the bill. ``This law has broad bipartisan support among my colleagues, especially in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, .'' The activists argue that the 1997 amnesty law granted legal rights to refugees of unfriendly governments in Cuba and Nicaragua but barred those from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala - three U.S. allies. They want legislation that would allow more special H-1B visas for foreigners with high-tech skills. Erick Midence of Oxnard, a member of United Hondurans of Los Angeles, said he works and pays taxes. ``But this country still refuses to recognize me or give me the chance to become a citizen.'' |
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