Attorney General Lockyer Files Agreement Ending Major Challenges to Proposition 187

Mediated Compromise Acknowledges Federal Welfare Reforms, Ends Costly Litigation

Thursday, July 29, 1999
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

The following statement was issued by Attorney General Bill Lockyer:

Today I filed the mediated settlement over Proposition 187 with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, ending a four-year legal battle.

The fundamental effect of the compromise will be to protect innocent children from being kicked out of school by following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on the issue, and allow law enforcement to continue to report unauthorized immigrants to federal authorities. This agreement keeps faith with the voters by affirming the supremacy of federal law on immigration issues.

The federal appellate court action brings to a rational conclusion the contentious battle over Proposition 187 that otherwise would have taken more years and more than an estimated $10 million to resolve.

# # #