California, seeking to shed past exclusion, removes 'alien' from labor code

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Podcasts Take Two

Aug 12, 2015

California, seeking to shed past exclusion, removes 'alien' from labor code

For years, the word "alien" was used in California to describe both workers who were here legally, and those who came here undocumented. That now will change.

Rodrigo Ortiz, an employee at the Pomona Day Labor Center, waves at the Metropolitan Detention Center during a march on Wednesday, Aug. 27 supporting immigrant worker protections in any administrative relief plan that President Obama announces in the coming weeks.

For years, the word "alien" was used in California to describe both workers who were here legally, and those who came here undocumented. That now will change.

For years, the word "alien" was used in California to describe both workers who were here with legal residence, and those who came here undocumented.

Earlier this week, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill into law which will remove the term from the state labor code.

For more, we're joined by the law maker who wrote that bill, State Senator Tony Mendoza who represents California's 32nd District.