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Delegates to tackle illegal immigration

By Bill Leonard, State Board of Equalization


When the California Republican Party meets in convention this weekend in Century City, the delegates will consider several resolutions on illegal immigration. Instead of complaining about the federal government's failure to secure our borders, most of these resolutions focus on state policies that can be improved to solve the problem.

The first resolution discusses local government housing vouchers that are often used to provide “affordable housing” at taxpayer expense to illegal aliens. The City of Los Angeles is the largest offender.

The second resolution demands that California begin enforcing its own laws for payroll tax withholding, workers' compensation, job safety, minimum wages, and other business regulations that are being ignored on a daily basis by thousands and thousands of employers who hire illegal aliens.

The third resolution would place the California Republican Party on record in opposition to any form of amnesty, including “guest worker” programs, for illegal aliens.

The most controversial resolution addresses the problem of “anchor babies,” children of illegal aliens who are treated as American citizens under current law, even if they immediately return to their parents' homeland. These anchor babies often entitle their illegal alien parents to collect welfare benefits, and they can petition the government to allow their illegal alien parents to become citizens. Reasonable people can differ on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, but the text suggests that the children of illegal aliens are not necessarily American citizens.

Congress has special enforcement powers under the 14th Amendment, so it could certainly clarify this matter. It has often been noted that America is the only nation on Earth that provides automatic citizenship to children born to illegal aliens. This policy needs to be re-examined in light of our modern welfare state.

These are difficult issues, but I applaud the California Republican Party delegates for discussing them openly and honestly at their convention.

Someday, maybe the Legislature will follow suit.