Posted on 12/19/2001 10:33:50 AM PST by flamefront
Stepping into a controversy, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously called Tuesday for legalization of illegal immigrants to ensure they have driver's licenses, safe housing, worker protections and adequate health care."We are not seeking any legislative action or blanket amnesty program, but we want to recognize that people can only live with dignity if they have access to health care, if they have a driver's license," said Councilman Eric Garcetti, who authored the resolution.
"Right now, these people live in sort of a shadowy area of our society. I think this helps our security by getting people out in the open where they can be recognized."
The measure was approved 12-0 without debate. It condemns the difficulties faced by illegal immigrants and says in part that "true legalization in the form of permanent legal status and citizenship ... should not be limited to any country or work industry."
In addition to providing access to driver's licenses, the measure urges that health care be provided along with access to clean and safe housing and working conditions, access to education, and a guarantee of minimum wages.
In adopting the resolution, which has no impact on local or state laws, the council put itself in the center of a debate that has raged in California for years.
Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform in Washington, D.C., said the council's policy "would reward lawbreakers. What's sad is that they are people who think they're doing the right thing, but are misguided."
Tom Schiltgen, district director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said the agency would not take a position on the council's resolution. He said the agency endorses and promotes legal immigration.
"We think that is a good thing for the country and, of course, our responsibility also is to enforce those same laws," Schiltgen said. "We do not condone illegal immigration."
At the same time, he said the INS works with other law enforcement agencies to make sure people are not taken advantage of.
Garcetti said he was following proposals advanced by President George W. Bush after a summit with Mexican President Vicente Fox.
"And, since Sept. 11, this is even more important," Garcetti said. "Law enforcement supports a way to be able to identify people."
Gov. Gray Davis has opposed a measure that would give a blanket authority to issue driver's licenses to everyone, but has agreed to work on an approach that would balance public safety by developing some other method to insure the streets are safe.
"It's a delicate balancing act," spokeswoman Hillary McLean said. "The governor recognizes there is a need for something because people are driving and we want to see public safety needs are met."
Mayor James Hahn had no comment on the council action, but had been drawn into the debate earlier this year.
Following a trade mission to Mexico, the mayor said he supported a plan that would legalize residency for Mexican immigrants who have lived in the United States for years.
He won the "Latino of the Year" award given by UCLA 'Latinos' in 1996.
I didn't know this. Thanks for bringing me up to speed.
http://latino.sscnet.ucla.edu/research/docs/struggle/aztlan.htm
I'm going to bed. This gives me a headache. Catch ya tomorrow!!
There are so many different directions such an event could come from, it will be interesting to see what finally tips the scale. Interesting to a point, but you better not sit around and think too long about it, better to be movin yer ass to safer ground (rhetorical you, not Arleigh you). And I think it will not happen till Cali and Texas, at minimum, no longer have a star on the blue. Texas really isn't that far behind Cali, at this point.
That would be nice, but I think it's something that has to be experienced on a daily basis, over a period of months and years, before someone really wakes up. If all you have to go on is "They come here and work hard to make their lives better, " without experiencing the flooded education, legal, and medical systems, it's doesn't make a dent.
Also, it's illegal for anyone other than an election official to question a voter, and the procedures for questioning a voter consist of asking specific questions under oath, or swearing out an oath from the voter.
Under 14247 of the Election Code, citizenship challenges must be determined by the precinct board in a formal hearing.
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