California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 3

Introduced by Assembly Member Alejo

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Williams)

December 3, 2012

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 3—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.