AJR 3 Assembly Joint Resolution

BILL NUMBER: AJR 3	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo
   (  Coauthor:   Assembly Member 
 Williams   Coauthors:   Assembly
Members   Bonta,   Campos,   Chesbro,
  Fong,   Roger Hernández,  Levine, 
 Medina,   V. Manuel Pérez,   Quirk,  
Rendon,   Ting,   Williams,  and Yamada
 )
    (   Coauthors:   Senators  
Correa,   De León,   Padilla,  and Yee
  ) 

                        DECEMBER 3, 2012

   Relative to immigration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 3, as amended, Alejo. Immigration.
   This measure would specify  principles  
tenets  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   humane and
just  approach to improving the nation's immigration system
using those  principles   tenets  .
   Fiscal committee: no.


   
   WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of values,
founded on the principles that all men and women are created equal,
and the promise of freedom for all; and  
   WHEREAS, We are a nation of immigrants, who believe in the promise
of freedom and opportunity; and  
   WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken, antiquated, and
not meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It separates
families, including same-sex couples and families, and creates long
backlogs for families who are seeking reunification. Further, it
neglects the hard work and financial contributions immigrants make to
our country; and  
   WHEREAS, Since 2008, more than 1.6 million immigrants have been
deported, and one in every 10 American children faces the threat of
the deportation of a parent; and  
   WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 11 million undocumented
immigrants are in the United States, and California has the largest
population of immigrants, both legal and undocumented; and  

   WHEREAS, Immigrants and their children constitute nearly one-half
of California's population and live and work in all 58 counties, most
notably in the San Diego, Central Valley, Los Angeles, and greater
San Francisco areas; and  
   WHEREAS, Approximately 77 percent of undocumented immigrants who
reside in California live with family members who are legal United
States residents and citizens; and  
   WHEREAS, One in 10 workers in California is an undocumented
immigrant, and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital part
of the state's growing economy; and  
   WHEREAS, Immigrants are essential in keeping the American economy
strong; from technology programmers in the Silicon Valley to
restaurant owners and workers, immigrants are filling an intrinsic
need in the labor force; and  
   WHEREAS, Agricultural workers have been performing very important
and difficult work to maintain America's food supply, and have a role
of ensuring that Americans have safe and secure agricultural
products to sell and consume; and  
   WHEREAS, Students should not be punished for their immigration
status but instead should be given recognition for their sacrifice,
hard work, and determination; and  
   WHEREAS, The United States can do a better job of attracting and
keeping the world's best and brightest. A comprehensive immigration
reform should also grant immigrants who have received a Ph.D. or
master's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
from an American university the opportunity to invest in and
contribute to this great nation. For the future of our economy, it
makes no sense to educate the world's future innovators and
entrepreneurs only to ultimately force them to leave our country at
the moment they are most able to contribute to our economy; and 

   WHEREAS, Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional immigration
system will uphold our nation's basic values of fairness, equality,
as well as opportunity, and  
   WHEREAS, A comprehensive, as well as compassionate, approach to
solve our broken immigration system should be one that works for all
communities and families in America; and  
   WHEREAS, A just immigration reform must ensure that it reflects
one of our basic values--that we all are created equal--thus
immigration reform must recognize each immigrant's full humanity; and
 
   WHEREAS, A proposal must be comprised of the following tenets that
achieve all of the following: (1) include a direct road map to full
citizenship that is inalienable, affordable, and inclusive for the 11
million immigrants who are currently living in the shadows; (2)
reform of immigration enforcement programs that separate families and
ensures that family unification systems are strengthened; (3)
upgrade the current visa programs in order to have a legal workforce
and a system that better enforces labor protections; and (4) uphold
due process as well as the inherent rights of all immigrants; 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 humane and just
approach to solving our nation's broken immigration system; 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, to
the Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United States,
to the Governor of California, and to the author of this resolution.
 
   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.