When proposition 187 was held unconstitutional. Voted for in 1994, held unconstitutional in 1999. That was the beginning of the end.
California Proposition 187 (also known as the Save Our State (SOS) initiative) was a 1994 ballot initiative to establish a state-run citizenship screening system and prohibit illegal immigrants from using non-emergency health care, public education, and other services in the State of California. Voters passed the proposed law at a referendum on November 8, 1994. The law was challenged in a legal suit the day after its passage, and found unconstitutional by a federal district court on November 11th.[1] In 1999, Governor Gray Davis halted state appeals of this ruling.
Passage of Proposition 187 reflected state residents’ concerns about illegal immigration into the United States. Opponents believed the law was discriminatory against illegal immigrants of Hispanic or Asian origin; supporters maintained that their concerns were economic: that the state could not afford to provide social services for so many people who had entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas.[2][3] The ballot measure was seen as a direct reaction to the 1990 recession.[4] However, the California Legislative Analysts office later reported that the cost of verification would outweigh any fiscal benefits of the ballot measure.[5] Republicans’ embrace of Proposition 187 has been cited as a key factor for the decline of the Republican Party in California, particularly as the demographics have changed to include more immigrants.
“When proposition 187 was held unconstitutional.”
It was before that. I lived there in the early to mid 80’s and noticed the decline then.
My answer would be in the mid 70’s with Gov. Moonbeam
Even as late as 2008, CA voters passed Prop 8, defining marriage as being between a man and a woman, only to be overturned by the courts and not defended by the state. By this time it was clear the voters no longer controlled the state.
You are correct. Had it been upheld (and it was completely constitutional), California would have stopped being the magnet for illegals, and they would not have shifted the demographics and balance of power in the state. The vote in 1994 was necessary because of the 86 amnesty, but 86 wasn’t the pivotal year. The state was still salvageable til 187 was overturned by activist judges.
” In 1999, Governor Gray Davis halted state appeals of this ruling.”
That was the point of no return. No other single event had as much impact, before and sense, than that decision to not appeal that erroneous ruling by a lowly district judge.
The initiative passed readily, and was clearly constitutional, but the machine would have none of it.
No ID or proof of citizenship required to register to vote were major contributors.