The Human Cost of Partisan Immigration Policies: How Political Divisiveness Undermines California's Social and Economic Fabric

The Stark Partisan Divide on Immigration Enforcement

The latest research from UC Berkeley’s Possibility Lab reveals a disturbing political schism in California regarding immigration policy. According to an October 2025 survey of over 8,000 California registered voters, conducted as part of Berkeley’s IGS Poll, the state demonstrates mixed public opinion on immigration enforcement that masks a deeply partisan reality. While 51% of Californians oppose federal actions to reduce undocumented immigration and 61% oppose the deportation of all undocumented immigrants, these numbers conceal a dramatic ideological divide. Democrats overwhelmingly oppose current enforcement efforts and express legitimate concerns about deportations adversely affecting California’s economy and culture, while only a small minority of Republicans share these concerns.

This partisan split isn’t merely academic—it has real-world consequences that are tearing at the social fabric of our communities. Nearly a quarter of California voters report that they or someone close to them has been directly affected by current deportation efforts. Furthermore, approximately four in ten California voters indicate that deportation efforts have made it less likely for people in their communities to send children to school, seek medical care, shop locally, go to work, or participate in community and religious activities. These findings represent nothing less than a systemic failure to protect the basic liberties and pursuit of happiness that our Constitution guarantees to all persons within our borders.

The Intersection of Immigration Status and Community Wellbeing

The research extends beyond polling data to examine the tangible connections between immigration status and overall wellbeing. Through focus groups and town halls with over 280 participants in California’s Inland Empire and Coachella Valley, researchers identified 1,534 “Firsthand Indicators” of health and wellbeing. The findings reveal that health encompasses far more than medical issues for immigrant communities—economic stability emerged as participants’ top indicator of wellbeing, followed by mental health and access to health services.

These communities face substantial barriers including limited access to medical care and health insurance, economic insecurity, and lack of accessible educational resources (especially in languages other than English or Spanish). As one participant starkly summarized: “You work while going to college to pay your medical bills.” This testimony reveals the incredible resilience of immigrant communities while simultaneously highlighting how our systems are failing to provide basic dignity and support.

The Economic Imperative: Immigrants as California’s Backbone

Beyond the moral and humanitarian dimensions, the economic data presents an irrefutable case for thoughtful immigration policy. Latino workers play a crucial role in California’s economy, making up 39% of the state’s workforce, with one-third of this population being immigrants. These workers are heavily represented in essential sectors including agriculture, construction, general maintenance, and food preparation.

The construction sector provides particularly compelling evidence: Immigrants comprise 41% of California’s construction workers and 50% of the state’s craftspeople. With California aiming to build 2.5 million homes by 2032—an already ambitious goal—immigration policies will significantly impact the state’s ability to address its housing shortages. In 2025, 62% of construction firms reported difficulty filling hourly craft worker positions, with immigration enforcement cited as one reason for this challenge, particularly for positions requiring specific skillsets.

Community-Based Solutions and the Path Forward

California has recognized the need for innovative approaches to support immigrant communities. During COVID-19, state government agencies acknowledged that traditional approaches to workplace health and safety education often failed to reach vulnerable populations, including immigrants. The COVID-19 Workplace Outreach Program (CWOP) pioneered a new model by distributing funding to community-based organizations who could serve as “trusted messengers,” reaching workers who experience significant barriers to accessing information due to language limitations, fear of retaliation, or concerns about immigration enforcement.

Between 2023 and 2024, the program (now called the California Workplace Outreach Program) provided more than $25 million to 76 community-based organizations across six regions of California, focusing on high-risk industries such as agriculture, food processing, warehousing, and janitorial services. These efforts reached a combined total of 2.5 million California workers, with roughly 5 million touchpoints across the state, including about 830,000 in-depth interactions focused on workplace rights and protections.

Opinion: Bridging the Partisan Divide to Protect Fundamental Rights

The data presents a clear and compelling case that demands our immediate attention and action. As a firm believer in democratic principles, constitutional rights, and human dignity, I find the current state of immigration policy both alarming and fundamentally un-American. The partisan divide on immigration isn’t merely a political disagreement—it represents a fundamental fracture in our understanding of human rights, economic reality, and constitutional principles.

First, the fact that deportation efforts are preventing community members from accessing education, healthcare, and religious activities represents a profound failure of governance. The Constitution guarantees certain fundamental rights to all persons within United States jurisdiction, not just citizens. When individuals avoid schools and hospitals due to fear, we have created a two-tiered system that violates our most basic principles of equal protection and human dignity.

Second, the economic implications of harsh immigration enforcement are self-defeating. With immigrants comprising such significant portions of critical industries—particularly construction as we face a historic housing shortage—policies that disrupt this workforce actively harm California’s economic interests and quality of life. This isn’t merely an ideological position; it’s pragmatic recognition that our economy depends on immigrant labor.

Third, the partisan nature of this debate threatens the very institutions that uphold our democracy. When essential policy decisions become polarized along party lines without regard for evidence or human consequences, we undermine the rational, deliberative process that democratic governance requires. The Founders established a system designed to temper passionate divisions through reasoned debate and compromise—principles that seem increasingly absent in today’s immigration discussions.

The community-based approach exemplified by the California Workplace Outreach Program offers a promising model for future policy. By working through trusted community messengers, the state has demonstrated that effective governance requires meeting people where they are, understanding their unique needs and concerns, and building systems that serve all residents regardless of immigration status.

Moving forward, we must advocate for policies that:

1. Recognize the essential economic contributions of immigrant communities while protecting their fundamental rights
2. Address immigration through comprehensive reform rather than enforcement-only approaches
3. Ensure that all persons within our borders can access education, healthcare, and other essential services without fear
4. Bridge partisan divides through evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes human dignity over political ideology

As we confront these challenges, we must remember that the strength of our democracy has always derived from our ability to evolve and expand our conception of who belongs in the American experiment. The current partisan divide on immigration represents not just a policy disagreement, but a test of our commitment to the principles enshrined in our Constitution—liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness for all who contribute to our society.