BILL NUMBER: AJR 37	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member De Leon

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   Relative to immigration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 37, as introduced, De Leon. 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 traveled 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 comprise 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% of undocumented immigrants that reside
in California live with families members that 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 even own their own small businesses; and
   WHEREAS, The integration of immigrants and the development of a
comprehensive approach to solve our broken immigration system is
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-term 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 Center for American Progress 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 solve 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 plan should include
the AgJOBS Act of 2009 and DREAM Act of 2009, (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.