How will illegal immigration revelation impact campaign?
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Pedro Rios, a former Delano City Council member and now a Republican candidate for the state Assembly, came to this country as an undocumented immigrant in his youth.
Rios said Wednesday that he "will not lie" about how he came to the United States illegally. But, until asked about it by Eyewitness News, Rios had avoided mentioning the illegal nature of his immigration during his campaign ads or on his website. His campaign materials only said he came to the United States as a 9-year-old boy. He went on to earn his American citizenship.
Rios is running for the 32nd Assembly seat against Democrat Rudy Salas.
Rios also had the somewhat surprising stance of opposing the DREAM Act, a bill that would have provided a path to legalization for many immigrants. DREAM stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors.
A different federal program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is currently allowing young illegal immigrants to avoid, or delay, deportation and get a work permit.
Rios said he supports "a true dream" or young immigrants gaining citizenship, education and jobs, calling the DREAM Act a "Band-Aid" being "used for political gain."
Opponent Salas said he supports the DREAM Act and can't understand why Rios also isn't in support.
"You would think he would be more sympathetic," Salas said.
Eyewitness News contacted Republican party leaders Wednesday for their reaction to Rios' admission that he was once an undocumented immigrant. Javier Reyes, a member of the Kern County Republican Party and an aide to GOP Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, of Bakersfield, downplayed the illegal immigration, saying Rios has since proven himself as a successful businessman and community member.
didn't he leave to south america for while and then returned back to the USA?  i cant predict the future but it seems like pedro got  the Delano vote and  other neighboring cities  Mcfarland, Wasco..... the power of persuasion Â
I believe that it doesn't matter from where you came from, but what you came to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where you came from helps you understand the needs of our communities and what you came to do makes the differences!!!!!!!
Pedro Rios has experienced what we all came to do/have, "THE AMERICAN DREAM." Â That tells us that its possible and never to give up!!!!!!!!!!! PEDRO RIOS WAS AN ILLEGALÂ IMMIGRANT, WHO LATER BECAME A U.S. CITIZEN, SO WHAT!!! Â AT A POINT IN OUR LIVES SOMEONE OF OUR ANCESTOR WAS AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, IN ORDER FOR US TO BE LEGAL U.S CITIZENS. Â WHY ARE PEOPLE MAKING A BIG DEAL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!! HE WANTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE ALL HE NEEDS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO!!!!!!! VOTE FOR PEDRO RIOS FOR STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 32, FOR A REAL CHANGE TO HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AM A YES FOR PEDRO!!!!!!!!!!!Â
When Pedro Rios, ran for City Council back in 2000, he never denied how he can to the United States. He came before the City Employees Union for support, and explain how he came here.
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I for one, don't care for dirty politics, if the candidates need to campaign dirty, then we don't need to have them in office. Today, I received a call from someone making phone calls to see if we supported Mr. Salas, after I told her that we had already, voted she asked me if I had voted for Rudy Salas, my response to her was it wasn't her busy how I voted. I done calling for previous candidate and measure and have never asked if they for my candidate or measure. I think the correct way is to ask if you have made your decision on how you are voting and if you have casted your vote remind the people to go and vote..not who they voted for.
It saddens me that even in local politics the dirty antics have to show up. If Mr. Salas cannot come up with anything else, but dirty politics, believe me, I will not vote for him. I would much rather see how he is going to help the community, or how he has helped the community, than the low blows he is throwing.  How immature of him.  The low blows do not make me respect him more, in fact, they help me respect him even less.
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Lol. How can he forget where he came from? And he is trying to be a Republican?
 @Martha Gonzalez Chavez Dear Ms. Chavez, I don't think that Mr. Rios has forgotten where he came from, in fact, I think he is very proud of where he came from, based on his publicizing it. I do not think that Mr. Rios at 9 years old had a clear conscious of what it meant to come to the US as an illegal immigrant. You might also want to find out what "Republican" means. Among, some of the things it is to be a republican, are being conservative, having less government interference, (which might mean to some, taking responsibility for ourselves, for one's actions, not blaming someone else for those actions we have taken, or expecting someone else to come and bailing us out of messes for our poor choices, that would be a Democrat.) I congratulate Mr. Rios for having served our country, for putting his life in danger by serving in our military and giving ME the opportunity to voice my opinion and to be free in this country. If once he became aware of his situation here in the United States of America, and paid for it by serving in the Military to show his patriotism, he has my vote. And by the way, I also believe in protecting the helpless, hence, no abortions because someone chooses to open her legs, and than regrets the poor choice that was made.  Abortions are not a means of birth control. Â
"Eyewitness News contacted Republican party leaders Wednesday for their reaction to Rios' admission that he was once an undocumented immigrant." Â
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Does that mean that he is now a US citizen? Â It seems rather odd that the story does not tell how he became a citizen.
wigglywagon...Here's what we say in the body of the story:
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IN HIS ADS HOWEVER, RIOS *NEVER* MENTIONS THE FACT THAT HE WAS ONCE AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT, ONLY SAYING THAT HE EVENTUALLY BECAME A U-S CITIZEN.
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Thanks for watching!