Proposition 187 (CA) - Elementary School

What Was Proposition 187?

Proposition 187 was a law that people in California voted on in 1994. It was also called the "Save Our State" initiative. The law was about undocumented immigrants. These are people who live in the United States without official immigration papers.

The law wanted to stop undocumented immigrants from using some public services, like public schools and some healthcare.

What Did the Law Say?

If the law had gone into effect, it would have:

• Stopped many undocumented children from going to public schools.

• Stopped undocumented immigrants from getting some healthcare and other public services.

• Required teachers, doctors, and other workers to report people they thought were undocumented.

• Made it against the law to make or use fake citizenship or residency papers.

What Happened?

Many people believed the law was unfair. They went to court to challenge it.

The courts decided that California could not make these immigration rules because the federal government is in charge of immigration. The courts also said that all children have the right to attend public elementary and high schools, no matter their immigration status.

Because of this, Proposition 187 was never fully used.

Why Is It Important?

Proposition 187 became an important moment in California's history. It encouraged many immigrant families to become more involved in their communities and to vote. Today, people still study Proposition 187 to learn about immigration, laws, and people's rights.