Consequences of California’s Sanctuary State Policies

By Frosty Wooldridge

Every time you turn around, your own government works against you or your fellow citizens commit atrocious lawless acts that stymie your imagination.   The U.S. Congress hasn’t enforced immigration laws for over 30 years, but they tell you that the illegal immigration flow trickles into our country. That trickle amounts to over 20 million illegal aliens working and residing in America.  The executive branch charged with securing our borders tells us that we must give amnesty rather than enforce our laws on the books.

In a state like California, illegal migration has squashed citizens like a steam roller with more than three million working and residing.  It creates horrific consequences as to education, medical, police, drugs and crowding—but Governor Jerry Brown doesn’t lift a finger.  Both U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein do nothing to save their own state from the onslaught.

Then, employers by the thousands hire illegals under the table, which undercuts the tax base—no wonder California runs a $15 billion deficit.

President Dan Stein of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, www.FAIRUS.org, spoke about this ironic situation this past week.

The unemployment rate in California is near 11%. In order to balance the budget, the state is forced to raise taxes while cutting services and benefits for citizens. Yet, California continues to welcome illegal aliens with open arms.

“Is California on the path to self-destruction?” said Stein.  “It sure seems that way. Considering the recent bills coming out of the legislature, lawmakers’ primary concern is the continued expansion of publicly funded benefits and services to illegal aliens – at the expense of taxpayers and public safety.”

California By the Numbers

• Total Population: 37,691,912
• Unemployment rate: 10.7%
• Illegal Alien Population: approx. 3,000,000
• Illegal Aliens Eligible for Obama Amnesty: 450,000
• Incarcerated Criminal Aliens: 102,795 (GAO, FY2009)
• Credit Rating: A- (worst in the country)
• Deficit: $15.7 billion

Cost of Illegal Immigration to California Taxpayers annually

• K-12 Education: $9.2 billion
• Limited English Proficiency Programs: $1.9 billion
• In-State Tuition: $87.9 million
• Justice and Incarceration: $3.2 billion
• Medical: $2.9 billion
• Welfare: $1.6 billion

See FAIR’s The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on U.S. Taxpayersfor further details.

Anti-Detainer Law Would Prevent ICE from Apprehending Criminal Aliens

“Late last month, California doubled down on its sanctuary stance,” said Stein.  “The legislature passed a bill to prevent law enforcement from complying with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers for illegal aliens in local or state custody.

“If signed into law, AB 1081 would prohibit state and local law enforcement agents from honoring ICE detainers unless an alien has been convicted of or is in custody for a serious or violent felony. Even then, officers would not be required to comply with the detainers. Under federal regulation, once ICE issues a detainer for an alien in state or local custody, jail officials must hold the alien for up to 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow ICE agents to pick them up.

“The public safety implications of the policy are obvious and far reaching. By refusing to turnover arrested or convicted illegal aliens to ICE, the state would be complicit in putting immigration violators back on the street – including those with criminal records. AB 1081 is not only a challenge to the federal government’s authority over immigration policy (albeit one that will probably be met with a meek response from the Obama administration), but also puts the state, and the rest of the country, at risk for future, preventable crimes committed by illegal aliens.

“The severe fiscal impact also can’t be overlooked. Instead of cooperating with ICE to remove illegal aliens from the state, the California legislature wants them to be released and continue to use scarce taxpayer-funded resources. Additionally, ICE Director John Morton has warned that jurisdictions with anti-detainer laws may lose State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) reimbursement for the costs of incarcerating criminal aliens. With over 100,000 criminal aliens incarcerated in state and local jails, California is the largest recipient of the federal reimbursements in the country.

“The California State Sheriff’s Association is pushing for Governor Jerry Brown to veto the bill, fearing that following the state law would require them to break federal law. Governor Jerry Brown himself opposed similar policies as attorney general. If Brown takes no action, the bill will be enacted automatically on September 30.”

Legislature Wants Driver’s Licenses for Obama Amnesty Beneficiaries

“A group of California lawmakers has been pushing for driver’s licenses for illegal aliens for years,” said Stein. “Now, President Obama’s unauthorized executive amnesty has triggered the legislature to extend the benefit to illegal aliens who qualify for deferred action – that’s about 450,000 people.

“AB 2189 would reverse a 19-year-old California law, which requires that all applicants for state driver’s licenses provide evidence that their “presence in the United States is authorized under federal law.” However, state lawmakers in essence nullified this law by simply adopting language that “[any] federal document demonstrating favorable action by the federal government for acceptance of a person into the deferred action for childhood arrivals program shall satisfy [this requirement].”

“This action taken by the California Legislature lies in stark contrast to that taken by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, who issued an executive order clarifying that illegal aliens with deferred action are not eligible receive state benefits, including driver’s licenses. Other states continue to struggle with the chaos unleashed by the Obama Administration’s amnesty plan – especially when determining if, and under what circumstances, illegal aliens with deferred action are eligible for state benefits.”

AB 2189 now sits on Governor Brown’s desk and some legislators are confident that the Governor will sign the bill into law.

Once again, you have to scratch your head to make sense out of the senselessness of the costs of illegal migration and such men as Jerry Brown’s conspicuous aiding and abetting along with the California legislature.

Contact Dan Stein at www.FAIRUS.organd become a member of FAIR.  This organization works to promote a reduction in mass legal immigration and for laws to stop all illegal immigration. Join over 250,000 Americans from all walks of life to stop mass migration into the USA.

Frosty Wooldridge is a member of the board at FAIR.

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Frosty Wooldridge has bicycled across six continents – from the Arctic to the South Pole – as well as eight times across the USA, coast to coast and border to border. In 2005, he bicycled from the Arctic Circle, Norway to Athens, Greece. In 2012, he bicycled coast to coast across America.  His latest book is: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, copies at 1 888 280 7715/ Motivational program: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World by Frosty Wooldridge, click:

www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com