California lawmakers introduce bills to help refugees

(AP) — Amid nationwide legal battles over the president's temporary refugee ban, California lawmakers are taking steps to make their state more welcoming to people fleeing war, persecution or disasters in their home countries.

Assembly Democrats announced bills Wednesday to grant refugees in-state tuition at public colleges and provide money to school districts with large child refugee populations.

The bills would also give refugees with Special Immigrant Visas who served the U.S. Armed Forces or State Department in Iraq or Afghanistan priority enrollment in public colleges and help them apply foreign work experience toward a professional license.

The announcement comes as the federal government is fighting in court to reinstate a temporary suspension of the country's refugee program and a 90-day travel ban on residents of seven Muslim-majority countries.