BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AJR 3
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 2, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
Bob Wieckowski, Chair
AJR 3 (Alejo) - As Amended: April 1, 2013
As Proposed to be Amended
SUBJECT : IMMIGRATION REFORM
KEY ISSUE : SHOULD THE LEGISLATURE REGISTER ITS SUPPORT FOR A
WORKABLE APPROACH TO COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM?
FISCAL EFFECT : As currently in print this measure is keyed
non-fiscal.
SYNOPSIS
This noncontroversial measure, supported by both immigrants'
rights advocates and business groups, calls for workable
immigration reform founded on the following tenets: (1) a
direct, attainable, affordable, and inclusive road map to full
citizenship for the 11 million immigrants who are currently
living in the shadows; (2) reform of immigration enforcement
programs that separate families and assures that family
unification systems are strengthened; and (3) upgrade the
current visa programs in order to have a legal workforce and a
system that better enforces labor protections; and uphold due
process as well as the inherit rights of all immigrants. The
bill has no opposition.
SUMMARY : Specifies 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. Specifically, this measure makes the following
findings and resolutions:
1)WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of values,
founded on the principles that all men and women are created
equal, and promise of freedom for all; AND
2)WHEREAS, We are a nation of immigrants, who believe in the
promise of freedom and opportunity; AND
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3)WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken, antiquated
and not meeting the challenges of the 21st century;. it
separates families, including same-sex couple families, and
creates long backlogs for families seeking reunification, and
it neglects the hard work and financial contributions
immigrants make to our country; AND
4)WHEREAS, Since 2008, more than 1.6 million immigrants have
been deported, and one in every ten American children faces
the threat of deportation of a parent; AND
5)WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 11 million undocumented
immigrants are in the United States and California the largest
populations of immigrants, both legal and undocumented; AND
6)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
7)WHEREAS, Approximately 77% of undocumented immigrants that
reside in California live with families members that are legal
United States residents and citizens; AND
8)WHEREAS, One in ten workers in California is an undocumented
immigrant, and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital
part of the state's growing economy; AND
9)WHEREAS, Immigrants are essential in keeping the American
economy strong, from technology programmers in the Silicon
Valley to restaurant owners and workers, they are filling an
intrinsic need in the labor force; AND
10)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
11)WHEREAS, Students should not be punished for their
immigration status but should instead be given recognition for
their sacrifice, hard work, and determination; AND
12)WHEREAS, The U.S. can do a better job of attracting and
keeping the world's best and brightest. A comprehensive
immigration reform shall also grant immigrants who have
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received a PhD or Master's degree in science, technology,
engineering, or math from an American university the
opportunity to invest 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
13)WHEREAS, Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional
immigration system will uphold our nation's basic values of
fairness, equality as well as opportunity, AND
14)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
15)WHEREAS, A just immigration reform must ensure that it
reflect one of our basic values - that we all are created
equal - thus immigration reform must recognize immigrant's
full humanity; AND
16)WHEREAS, in order to enhance federal matching resources to
cover all eligible residents in our state, California also
urges the federal government to include New Americans to
participate in programs derived from the Affordable Care Act
and further allow New Americans to participate in public
funded programs to expedite their integration in our State;
AND
17)WHEREAS, A proposal must be comprised of the following
tenets: (1) include a direct, attainable, affordable, and
inclusive road map to full citizenship for the 11 million of
immigrants who are currently living in the shadows; and (2)
reform of immigration enforcement programs that separate
families and assures that family unification systems are
strengthened; and (3) upgrade the current visa programs in
order to have a legal workforce and a system that better
enforces labor protections; and uphold due process as well as
the inherit rights of all immigrants;
18)Resolves that the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly urge the President and the Congress of the
United States to take a humane and just approach to solving
our nation's broken immigration system.
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EXISTING LAW provides for the regulation of immigration
exclusively by the federal government. (E.g., LULAC v. Wilson,
908 F. Supp. 755, 786-87 (C.D. Cal. 1995).)
COMMENTS : In support of the bill the author states:
Reforming our nation's immigration policies is in the best
interest of California. Nearly half of the state's
population is made up of immigrants and their children. The
condition of the current immigration system is unacceptable
due to the fact that there are an estimated 11 million
undocumented immigrants in the United States - with
California having one of the largest immigrant populations,
both legal and undocumented.
One in every ten workers located in California is an
undocumented immigrant. 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 (gross domestic product) growth over 10
years, and increase wages for all workers. Moreover, a
study 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. The U.S. can do a
better job of attracting and keeping the world's best and
brightest. AJR 3 calls for the President and Congress to
take action on this issue.
The bill's sponsor, the Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights
of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), argues that AJR 3 is an important
resolution calling on the federal government to uphold the
golden promise to keep families together. CHIRLA contends that
that the current immigration system is broken and hurting
families by keeping loved ones apart through red tape,
bureaucracy and draconian enforcement tactics. CHIRLA notes
that California has one of the biggest populations of
immigrants, and that California's voice on the issue of
immigration reform is critical. The Mexican American Legal
Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) notes that there are an
estimated 10 million immigrants in California, both legal and
undocumented, who are part of the economy and contribute
significant tax dollars. However, MALDEF contends that many
immigrants continue to hide in the shadows and are therefore
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unable to fully contribute to their communities and economies.
These immigrants' rights advocates are joined in support by the
California Farm Bureau, among other business groups. The Farm
Bureau states that this resolution's call for a workable
solution to the difficult problem of immigration reform is very
timely and commendable.
Author's Technical Amendments. The author wishes to add as
co-authors Assembly Members Bonta, Campos, Chesbro, Fong,
Garcia, Hernández, Levine, Medina, V. M. Perez, Quirk, Rendon,
Ting, Williams, and Yamada, and Senators Correa, De León, Lieu,
Padilla, and Yee, and to make the following technical
amendments:
WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken, antiquated
and not meeting the challenges of the 21st century ; i t separates
families, including same-sex couple s and families, creates long
backlogs for families who are seeking reunification, and .
Further, it neglects the 32 hard work and financial
contributions immigrants make to our country; AND
WHEREAS, A just immigration reform must ensure that it reflect
one of our basic values - that we all are created equal - thus
immigration reform must recognize immigrant's full humanity; AND
WHEREAS, in order to enhance federal matching resources to cover
all eligible residents in our state, California also urges the
federal government to include New Americans to participate in
programs derived from the Affordable Care Act and further allow
New Americans to participate in public funded programs to
expedite their integration in our State; AND
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (sponsor)
California Communities United Institute
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Labor Federation
California Landscape Contractors Association
Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles
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Legal Aid Society - Employment Law Center
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
North Bay Labor Council
SEIU
Street Level Health Project
United Food and Commercial Workers Local
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Kevin G. Baker / JUD. / (916) 319-2334