In November 1997, two years after the measure passed in California, federal Judge Mariana R. Pfaelzer issued a ruling.
In a 32-page opinion on the case, the judge declared Proposition 187 “not constitutional on its face.” She struck down all of the law’s major provisions including the ban on public school attendance and health and social-service benefits. She did let stand less-controversial elements of the law, which established criminal penalties for the use of false immigration documents.
Thank you.