Assembly Moves To Send Formal Immigration Message To Congress

[Ayatollahgondola]

So the new 2/3 majority is charging head on into the immigration debate, formalizing a legislative resolution that California wants amnesty for illegals
:

BILL NUMBER: AJR 3 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Williams)

DECEMBER 3, 2012

Relative to immigration.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AJR 3, as introduced, Alejo. Immigration.
This measure would specify principles for repairing the nation's
broken immigration system, and would urge Congress and the President
of the United States to take a comprehensive and workable approach to
improving the nation's immigration system using those principles.
Fiscal committee: no.



WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded by immigrants
who came from around the world seeking a better life; and
WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken. It separates
families, reduces the effectiveness of national security programs,
contributes to labor abuses, and creates long backlogs for families
seeking naturalization. Further, it neglects the hard work and
financial contributions immigrants make to our country; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 11 million undocumented
immigrants are in the United States; and
WHEREAS, California has one of the biggest populations of
immigrants, both legal and undocumented; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants and their children constitute nearly one-half
of California's population and contribute to local economies. In the
San Francisco Bay area, immigrants contribute 22 percent of the
region's economic activity. In Santa Clara County, immigrants
contribute 44 percent of the region's economic activity. In Fresno,
immigrants contribute 27 percent of the region's economic activity.
In Orange County, immigrants contribute 33 percent of the region's
economic activity. In the Inland Empire, immigrants contribute 28
percent of the region's economic activity. In San Diego, immigrants
contribute 25 percent of the region's economic activity. In Los
Angeles County, immigrants contribute 43 percent of the region's
economic activity. In Kern County, immigrants contribute 24 percent
of the region's economic activity. In San Joaquin County, immigrants
contribute 29 percent of the region's economic activity. In Santa
Barbara County, immigrants contribute 25 percent of the region's
economic activity. In Tulare County, immigrants contribute 32 percent
of the region's economic activity; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 77 percent of undocumented immigrants that
reside in California live with family members who are legal United
States residents and citizens; and
WHEREAS, One in eleven workers in California is an undocumented
immigrant, and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital part
of the state's growing economy, diverse cultural fabric, and changing
demographics. Immigrant worker populations in California are
concentrated in a variety of sectors, including leisure and
hospitality, construction, food and agriculture, service,
transportation, and textile sectors. Many immigrants throughout the
state have even started their own small businesses; and
WHEREAS, The integration of immigrants and the development of a
comprehensive approach to fix our broken immigration system are
critical to ensure that our state continues to have a strong economy;
and
WHEREAS, Fixing our broken immigration system would have a
positive impact on the economy because moving workers out of a
vulnerable underground status produces both short- and long-term
economic gains. Doing so will strengthen the ability of working
families to become more productive, with higher levels of income and
job-generating consumption, and will increase their net contributions
to tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, Fixing our broken immigration system would have a
positive impact on the economy in the short and long term. Recent
data released by the University of California, Los Angeles, indicates
that legalizing the status of undocumented immigrants working and
living in the United States would create roughly $1.5 trillion in
additional GDP growth over 10 years and increase wages for all
workers; and
WHEREAS, A study released by the University of Southern California
estimates that the immediate and long-term effects of enacting
comprehensive immigration reform would result in a $16 billion boost
to California's economy; and
WHEREAS, Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional immigration
system will uphold our nation's basic values of fairness, equal
opportunity, and respect for the law; and
WHEREAS, A comprehensive approach to repair our broken immigration
system, one that works for all communities and families in America,
should include the following elements: (1) a plan for providing legal
status with a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants who are
working and living in the United States, which should include the
AgJOBS Act of 2011 and DREAM Act of 2011, (2) improvement of the
economic situation of all workers in the United States, (3) the
reform of visa programs in order to keep families together, protect
workers' rights, and ensure that future immigration is regulated and
controlled rather than illegal and chaotic, (4) the implementation of
smart, effective enforcement measures targeted at the worst
violators of immigration and labor laws, (5) prioritizing immigrant
integration into our communities and country, and (6) respect for the
due process rights of everyone in the United States; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President and the
Congress of the United States to take a comprehensive and workable
approach to solving our nation's broken immigration system, using the
principles described in this resolution; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and the Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each
Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the
United States.