The California Report | Friday, May 17, 2013, 4:30 PM

Young Immigration Activist Struggles to Balance Courage with Fear

Comprehensive immigration reform inched forward in Washington this week, when a bipartisan group in the House of Representatives reached agreement on how to address key issues like a path to citizenship. No one has more riding on the outcome than the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Many of them are young people -- students anxious about their futures. As part of our series "Graduation Day," Jasmin Lopez brings us the story of Marco Perez, a high school senior struggling to balance his courage and his fears. This story was produced in collaboration with the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

The California Report | Tuesday, May 07, 2013, 8:50 AM

Living Underground: Deported From the U.S., Some in Mexico Are Making Homes in Holes

As Congress debates immigration reform, nearly 11 million people who call the United States home are living an underground existence to avoid detection by the authorities. But what happens when people are deported? Quite a few Mexicans who've been sent back across the border are now living underground -- literally -- in the border city of Tijuana.

The California Report | Friday, May 03, 2013, 4:30 PM

Coachella Farmworkers Struggle for Quality Housing

There was a ribbon cutting in the Coachella Valley east of Palm Springs this week, for a new housing complex to replace a dilapidated mobile home park. That 80-unit development is welcome news, but much more is needed. The region is rich in agricultural bounty, but the farmworkers there -- many of them immigrants -- often live in sub-standard mobile home parks. We visit a few of them to learn about the challenges of affordable housing in the region, and what the future may hold.

The California Report | Thursday, May 02, 2013, 8:50 AM

May Day Rallies Draw Thousands Hopeful of Immigration Reform

Thousands took to the streets in cities around California on Wednesday, buoyed by hopes that a major immigration overhaul is at hand. We report from festive May Day rallies in downtown Los Angeles and Fresno.

The California Report | Wednesday, May 01, 2013, 8:50 AM

On May Day, Immigration Activists Press for Speedy Reform

Immigration reform advocates plan to be out on the streets in 14 cities across California on Wednesday, urging Congress to get a move on immigration reform.

The California Report | Monday, Apr 29, 2013, 8:50 AM

At Mexican Border, Prying Open a Long-Closed Door

The U.S. Olympic Committee is considering 10 bids for the 2024 Summer Games -- but the one that's captured global attention is a joint proposal from San Diego and Tijuana. For all the political tension and increased fortification of the border, there's a lot of affection and affinity between the two cities. On Sunday, the Border Patrol opened a gate built into the border fence to allow maintenance -- and a family reunion took place.

The California Report | Friday, Apr 26, 2013, 4:30 PM

Two New Plays on the Undocumented Experience

The debate over immigration reform is building in Congress and it's being watched closely here in California, home to some three million undocumented immigrants. Two theatres in San Francisco are staging new plays telling the story of undocumented immigrants and the challenges they face living outside the law. We talked to the playwrights about their work, and their message to lawmakers.

Perspectives | Tuesday, Apr 23, 2013, 7:35 AM

Illegal

Guillermo Mayer applauds the AP Stylebook's kibosh on "illegal immigrant."

The California Report | Friday, Apr 19, 2013, 4:30 PM

In Southern Calif., Anti-Illegal Immigration Movement Fractures

Some of the most vocal efforts to prevent employers from hiring undocumented immigrants were led by a coalition of activists from Southern California. They did it with confrontational street protests, armed border patrols and new laws aimed at penalizing undocumented people. But many of their prominent leaders have moved on, leaving behind a fractured movement with diminishing influence over immigration policy locally and across the nation.

The California Report | Friday, Apr 19, 2013, 4:30 PM

Border Security and the New Immigration Bill

California shares a 140-mile border with Mexico -- and the new federal immigration bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to give Congress a plan for controlling it. But some experts question the emphasis on border security, saying the Mexican border is more secure today than it has ever been.

Forum | Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013, 9:00 AM

The 'Gang of 8' Immigration Reform Bill

On Tuesday, the bipartisan group of U.S. senators dubbed the "Gang of Eight" unveiled an immigration reform bill that would include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million people who stay in the U.S. illegally. We talk about the legislation and its controversial proposal that would allow immigrants to become citizens after a 13-year process.

The California Report | Wednesday, Apr 17, 2013, 8:50 AM

Calif. Reacts as 'Gang of 8' Files Immigration Bill

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the "Gang of Eight" formally filed an 844-page immigration bill on the U.S. Senate floor. California has much at stake in the outcome, and not just because the state is home to many of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally.

The California Report | Thursday, Apr 04, 2013, 8:50 AM

What Immigration Reform May Mean for California

Federal lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on several competing immigration reform bills -- some of which may debut next week. One way or another, they're all expected to include some kind of path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people already in the country illegally.

The California Report | Wednesday, Apr 03, 2013, 8:50 AM

Study Examines Good Outcomes for Undocumented HIV Patients

A new study from Texas finds undocumented Latinos who are HIV-positive tend to seek care late in their illness, yet they have good health outcomes. California health officials have taken notice.

The California Report | Thursday, Mar 21, 2013, 8:50 AM

Is the U.S. Chasing Away Silicon Valley's Foreign Talent?

Some immigrants who come to Silicon Valley for a stab at fame and fortune are not sticking around. Instead, they're returning home to India, China, Brazil and elsewhere. Talented technology workers look at the growth of tech hubs outside the U.S. -- and the capital available abroad -- and pack up and go.

The California Report | Friday, Mar 08, 2013, 4:30 PM

Campaign Aims to Ease Naturalization for Vietnamese Immigrants

While Congress prepares to debate the so-called "path to citizenship" for undocumented immigrants, 8.5 million legal permanent residents are in the U.S. and eligible to naturalize. Nearly one-third of them live in California -- but they're not all becoming citizens. Language is a big obstacle. The federal government has launched its first-ever national campaign in Vietnamese and other languages, to get out the word about the naturalization process. We stop by a recent kick-off event in Orange County.

The California Report | Thursday, Mar 07, 2013, 8:50 AM

Dream Act Students Apply for First Cal Grants

Students across California are anxiously waiting to hear how much money they'll get for college next year -- and for the first time, that includes undocumented students, who are eligible to apply for state-funded financial aid under California's Dream Act. Far more students turned in their applications by this week's deadline than had been expected.

The California Report | Wednesday, Mar 06, 2013, 8:50 AM

Central Valley Businesses Weigh Immigration Reform

California farmers make no secret of the fact they rely on a largely undocumented workforce. A group of business leaders gathered Tuesday in Fresno to talk about the impact immigration reform could have on the region's $26 billion farm economy.

Forum | Tuesday, Mar 05, 2013, 9:30 AM

Harmeet Dhillon Elected Vice Chair of Calif. GOP

San Francisco Republican Party Chair Harmeet Dhillon made history over the weekend. She became the first woman to be elected vice chair of the state GOP. A practicing Sikh of Indian descent, she endured several racial slurs during the course of her campaign. We talk to Dhillon about her unusual career -- including a stint as a board member with the ACLU -- her vision for the party, and her experiences as a Republican in San Francisco.

Forum | Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013, 10:00 AM

'Birds of Paradise Lost': Fleeing Vietnam for San Francisco

Author Andrew Lam says he robbed his Vietnamese parents of their American Dream the day he told them he wanted to be a writer and not a doctor. But years later, Lam's writing still centers on his Vietnamese roots. Lam joins us to talk about his new book "Birds of Paradise Lost," which focuses on Vietnamese immigrants and their struggles to integrate in the Bay Area. Lam is editor of New America Media, the country's first and largest national collaboration and advocate of ethnic news organizations.

Activity: The Changing Faces of the United States

Why do people immigrate? In this activity, you will learn more about world immigration patterns, documented immigrants in the United States, and Naturalization in the United States.