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Immigration reform activists, from left, Martha Campos (LUNA) , Father Jon Pedigo (Our Lady of Guadalupe parish), and Geraldo Dominguez (UFCW) block traffic in protest near the Mi Pueblo Market off East Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. (LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group)

SACRAMENTO -- Slamming the Republican Congress for dropping the ball on immigration reform, Democratic legislative leaders on Tuesday unveiled a sweeping package of bills that would dramatically expand protections for illegal immigrants far beyond what's offered by any other state.

The 10 pieces of legislation would offer state-subsidized health care coverage to the undocumented poor, make it illegal for businesses to discriminate against customers based on their immigration status or the language they speak, and make it harder for federal authorities to deport immigrants living here illegally.

Calling the bills a direct response to Congress' "intellectual laziness" and "lack of work ethic" on the issue, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Len said the legislation is needed because deficiencies in state law unfairly limit the potential of immigrants -- both those who are here legally and those who are not.

"Our food, our clothing, our music, art and technology -- these are industries central to California's advancement, and they're all driven by immigrants," the Los Angeles Democrat said at a Sacramento news conference at which he unveiled the legislative package on a stage packed with other Democrats and immigration reform advocates.

Taken together, the proposals solidify California's reputation as a national leader on immigration policy, political experts said Tuesday. But groups opposing illegal immigration vowed to fight the bills.

"These proposals are the latest in a seemingly endless set of legislation designed to make illegal immigration a more comfortable thing," said Joe Guzzardi, national media director for Californians for Population Stabilization. "People living in Mexico and Central America are only going to want to come here more."

The biggest hurdle, however, may prove to be the legislative package's price tag.

"Californians at this point are strongly inclined to support undocumented immigrants," said Dan Schnur, director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. But "they become less enthusiastic about supporting undocumented immigrants when it comes to writing checks."

Link:
Illegal immigration: California Democrats unveil far-reaching package of bills aimed at helping newcomers