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Home My WebLink AboutCity of Los Angeles - Illegal Immigrants miL -13-00) CITY OF Los ANGELES ELIAS MARTINEZ CALIFORNIA Office of : City Clerk CITY CLERK Council and Public Services iG�+"1• J. Michael Carey ••• Room 395,City Hall Executive Officer 111111111,. t4. : Los Angeles,CA 90012 When making inquiries S' e,.. s Council File Information-(213)485-5703 relative to this matter General Information-(213)485-5705 refer to File No. • 'eADED. .•••• Pat Healy 9 4- 0 0 02-S 4 7 RICHARD J. RIORDAN Chief Legislative Assistant MAYOR C) CO July 25 , 1994 < c C) r— rn N Co RI n Cn Honorable Richard Riordan, Mayor Cities in the Stat Ali Chief Legislative Analyst of California City Administrative Officer C) City Attorney Counties in the St teo Councilmember Hernandez of California Councilmember Goldberg Councilmember Ridley-Thomas Democratic and Republican Councilmember Alatorre Nominees for Statewide Office Councilmember Alarcon RE: CITY OPPOSITION TO "SAVE OUR STATE" (SOS) INITIATIVE WHICH WOULD DENY PUBLIC EDUCATION AND MOST GOVERNMENT FUNDED HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS TO' ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS I HEREBY CERTIFY that the attached Resolution was adopted by the Los Angeles City Council at its meeting held July 19 , 1994 . • FL_Lore--\04 - ELIAS MARTINEZ, CITY CLERK cc: 8 Certified copies sentCppySgpu$meLtACTIQ1Lsentatives APPROVED DENIED bem RECEIVED OTHER ' ,men0\940002.47 � , n I ry.r\_ C C Sit' 042 C Q-c Mi.T.TINC DATE t N(, ABSENT: 1\�\P ABSTAIN: �t VERIFIED BY: ��a� TF�kI�Aeg wit City Clerk' s Office AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT Ckli6dIg1 YYT`1'S FFRIVATIVE 'ACTION EMPLOYER Recyclade and made from recycled waste Tejij RESOLUTIO 5 I r �, _r i ram/ • ..' WHEREAS , immigration is ttOde'lliteCi�►6�t slgnificant and,politically volatile 7 ___facing California policy makers; and COU?1.41"- J REG�� _ JUL 1 21994 WHEREAS, the "Save Our S e ("SOS") initiative seeks to scapegoat immigrants for the economic and social woes facing California, in the midst of an election year; and WHEREAS, the "SOS" measure proposes to "save" our state by the following: 1) banning undocumented children from public schools; 2) requiring public school teachers to report "suspected" undocumented children to the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS); 3) deny prenatal care to undocumented women; 4) require public health workers to report to the INS "suspected" undocumented patients, including children receiving immunizations; 5) require local police to coordinate with INS in deporting undocumented persons arrested for an offense; 6) various other punitive measures, which only duplicate existing restrictions or violate state or federal constitutional or statutory law; and WHEREAS, "SOS" proponents contend that immigrants come to California to receive public benefits and services when, in fact, immigrants come for jobs, family reunification and to flee persecution. Federal law already denies undocumented immigrants welfare or cash assistance programs, including food stamps; and WHEREAS, despite poverty rates among immigrants higher than the average, immigrants use fewer public benefits and are less likely than native-born residents to become dependent on welfare, according to the California Senate Office of Research and data from the INS; and WHEREAS, contrary to "SOS" propaganda, immigrants cannot be blamed for the Savings & Loan Bail-Out, and the billions it has cost taxpayers because of conspicuous consumption and over-speculation or the Defense Industry cut-backs, and the subsequent lay-offs that have burdened the local economy. According to a study by the Urban Institute, immigrants in California contribute $30 billion in taxes, while receiving barely half that amount in government services; and WHEREAS, "SOS" proponents ignore LAPD's "Special Order 40", and policies adopted by other law enforcement agencies, that already formalize cooperation between local governments and INS when undocumented persons are arrested for multiple misdemeanor offenses, high grade misdemeanors or felony offenses. Computer-networked booking systems, throughout the state, effectively report all suspected undocumented arrestees to the INS; and WHEREAS, "SOS", aside from duplicating already-existing law enforcement practices, also would raise serious legal issues by removing the requirement of "reasonableness" to any arrest -- a basic constitutional protection against arbitrary government action; and WHEREAS, while studies have indicated that less than 10 percent of the Latino community in California is undocumented, "SOS" creates a cloud of suspicion -- and places the burden of proof -- on all Latinos to prove their legality, despite a heritage of contributions, history and valor in the Golden State; and . WHEREAS, the_ _,ith Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals' ruts... this year in Gonzalez-Rivera v. INS that a stop based on race, or ethnic appearance, is an egregious Constitutional violation; the Court commented: "[W]e should not allow our courts to be used to sanction racism in any form"; "SOS" would put the state at odds with the Court of Appeals' ruling; and WHEREAS, in clear violation of the State Constitution and a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Plyler v. Doe), "SOS" would restrict undocumented persons from public schools, requiring school officials to report any pupil or parent suspected of being undocumented. "SOS" jeopardizes California's share of federal education funds by violating provisions of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits the release of information about public school students; and WHEREAS, at the same time "SOS" proposes to "save" our state, it also proposes to further drain local governments and schools of scarce funding through additional mandates with no funding; scarce tax dollars would be earmarked to create new bureaucratic systems to verify the "residency" of all Californians in a comprehensive illegal alien "witch-hunt" instead of using the same monies for educating our young people or putting more police on our streets; and WHEREAS, the history of the United States of America is one of immigration, men, women and children, of diverse cultures, backgrounds and beliefs, coming to this country in search of opportunity and a better life; and WHEREAS, policy makers should seek a responsible dialogue and debate on immigration issues that places a greater emphasis on servicing political asylum cases, legal residency and citizenship cases to accurately determine status; the development of tracking systems for all points of entry into this country; and deportation of all undocumented persons convicted of felony crimes; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Los Angeles opposes the so- called "Save Our State" Initiative; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Los Angeles seeks a responsible dialogue on the immigration issue including a greater emphasis on servicing political asylum cases, legal residency and citizenship cases to accurately determine status; development of tracking systems for all points of entry into this country; and deportation of undocumented persons convicted of felony crime; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Clerk be instructed to transmit a copy of this resolution to every city and county in the State of Califor is and the Democratic and Republican nominees for statewide office. / PE30L RESENTED B rF / ' ''' '''' MIKE HERNANDEZ ADOPTEDCouncilmember, First District JUL 19 9S4 SECONDED BY: I t�:� ,., , i July 12,LOWANGELES CITY COUNCIL