Bill Text: CA SCR108 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Federal immigration policy reform.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-06-01 - In Assembly. Held at Desk. [SCR108 Detail]
Download: California-2009-SCR108-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: SCR 108 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Senator Harman
MAY 10, 2010
Relative to federal immigration policy reform.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 108, as introduced, Harman. Federal immigration policy reform.
This measure would exhort the Congress and President of the United
States to exhibit responsible leadership by enacting comprehensive
immigration reform; develop a fair, purposeful immigration reform
solution that controls the country's borders and the costs to state
and local governments; preserve the paramount importance of lawful
immigration to our culture, economy, and future; and balance the need
for secure borders and sound residency requirements with America's
fundamental values.
Fiscal committee: no.
WHEREAS, The federal government possesses exclusive authority to
establish and enforce rules, regulations, and procedures relating to
naturalization and immigration pursuant to Section 8 of Article I of
the United State Constitution, the Sixth Amendment to the United
States Constitution, and over 100 years of Supreme Court precedent;
and
WHEREAS, The federal government has persistently ignored the
pressing need for comprehensive immigration reform, a failure the
sitting President admitted recently by saying, "Our failure to act
responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to
irresponsibility by others"; and
WHEREAS, The federal government has established various mechanisms
to reimburse states for certain costs of undocumented immigration,
but for years has reimbursed only a fraction of these costs to
California and other states; and
WHEREAS, Individual states cannot long sustain the fiscal
instability resulting from current federal immigration policy, nor
afford to wait indefinitely for the fulfillment of the promise of
comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level; and
WHEREAS, The federal government's failure to implement sound
immigration policy or enforce existing federal law encourages
frustrated states to craft their own ad hoc policy solutions for
undocumented immigration, an approach that potentially raises
constitutional concerns, incites socially and racially divisive
rhetoric, and creates a divergent patchwork of immigration law
provisions; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the history of the United States, the
continued prosperity and vitality of the country has been made
possible through the courage, dreams, and toil of immigrants from
around the globe, and the federal government's failure to establish
and guide an accessible, reasonable, and fair immigration process
undermines the values upon which America was founded; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
exhorts the Congress and President of the United States, on behalf of
California residents, to exhibit responsible leadership by enacting
comprehensive immigration reform; develop a fair, purposeful
immigration reform solution that controls the country's borders and
the costs to state and local governments; preserve the paramount
importance of lawful immigration to our culture, economy, and future;
and balance the need for secure borders and sound residency
requirements with America's fundamental values and our responsibility
to welcome with open arms "huddled masses yearning to breath free";
and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
