Answer :
It barred unauthorized immigrants from receiving most public services.
Final answer:
Proposition 187, aimed at denying undocumented immigrants access to public services in California, was struck down by federal courts as unconstitutional, polarizing state politics and spurring Latino political activism.
Explanation:
California's Proposition 187 was a controversial measure passed by voters in 1994, intending to deny undocumented immigrants access to public services, including non-emergency health services, public education, and other government assistance. However, it was quickly met with legal challenges claiming the proposition was motivated by racism and would create an underclass of Californians without access to essential services. Federal courts eventually ruled many parts of the law unconstitutional because they encroached upon the federal government's exclusive authority over immigration law. The heated debate over Proposition 187, with its distinct ethnic and party divisions, significantly polarized California politics and galvanized political activism among Latino voters, affecting the political landscape far beyond the state's borders.
