Governor Brown vetoes immigration juror bill but activists' spirits remain high

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On Monday, October 7th, Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would allow legal immigrants who are not citizens to serve on juries, saying that such a privilege, like voting, should be reserved for citizens.

Immigrations advocates such as Nora Phillips, an immigration attorney at the Central American Resource Center, and Jorge-Marco Cabrera from CHIRLA, argue that the passing of this bill would have helped incarcerated immigrants because they would have received a jury of their peers. 

But for Phillips and Cabrera, much of their focus has remained on what Governor Brown has passed. 

In the last few days, Brown signed bills that provide immigrants with driver's permits and the ability to practice law in the state, regardless of their legal status. He also signed the Trust Act, which means local law enforcement cannot detain undocumented immigrants longer than necessary for minor offenses as they wait for federal immigration services to arrive. 

These bills, Phillips and Cabrera say, has made California an immigrant friendly state. 

The two also say that these step taken by California could foreshadow what is to come for the rest of the nation.