Of course immigrants are just as valid. But this discussion is about whether people are moving into or out of CA vis-a-vis other states.
My point was that a state’s population growth or lack of it is the product of other factors as well, such as immigration and birth rates. Those factors are high for CA, which offsets the net out-migration of Californians to other states. People are leaving in droves, so let’s address the problems causing this.
Incidentally, we need those immigrants and fertile families to offset the plunging birth rate. Social security and medicare are doomed given present trends. Only a growing economy and growing population can bail these programs out.