ASSELTA AND DONOHUE: TIME TO TOUGHEN LAWS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

(CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, August 14) -- First District Senator Nick Asselta and his Assembly running mate Michael Donohue -- following up on their statements of last week, and furthering the outlines of their proposals to address social strains caused by illegal immigration here in New Jersey -- today called on Trenton Democrats to address the stresses caused by an estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants here in New Jersey, and to put the needs of New Jersey’s citizens back in their rightful place above the desires of those whose first act in our nation was to violate our laws, by calling a special session of the legislature to reform the state’s immigration-related laws.

“Last week, the Governor announced the formation of a 27-member commission that would take 15 months to examine the problems surrounding the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants in New Jersey,” said Asselta. “Michael, Norris Clark and I said at the time, very simply, that we didn’t need 27 commissioners and 15 months. All we need to do is to enforce the law.

“But in the very same week that the Governor announced the formation of his committee, the National Conference of State Legislatures released a report showing that New Jersey was one of only nine states that passed NO immigration-related legislation in the last year.

“Just because the Federal Government has failed in its responsibility to secure our borders and enforce our laws is no excuse for Trenton Democrats to do the same. If the Federal Government will not step up to the plate, then it is necessary for the State Government to take on the responsibility. And if that means new laws, then we will introduce and seek the passage of new laws -- in a special session of the legislature, to be convened as soon as is possible.

“For too long, Trenton Democrats have catered too much to the interests and the desires of those whose first act in the United States was to violate our laws. For too long, Trenton Democrats have forgotten that their first responsibility in these areas is to the citizens of this State -- the people who work hard, pay their taxes, and play by the rules.

“Today we call on the Governor and the rest of the Trenton Democrats to acknowledge that their years of focus on the desires of the illegal immigrant population have resulted in tremendous strain on our social infrastructure -- overcrowded schools, overcrowded courts, overcrowded hospitals and medical facilities – all at a cost that is borne largely, and almost exclusively, by our own taxpayers,” Asselta continued.

“Equally important are the national security and crime problems surrounding certain elements of the illegal immigrant population,” Asselta continued. “In this day and age, it is more important than ever that we know who’s living in our communities, or just down the block, or even right next door.

“It’s time we allowed state and local law enforcement authorities to be trained and deputized by Federal authorities to assist in the enforcement of Federal immigration and customs law.

“Moreover,” Asselta went on, “because we all know that the prospect of employment is the magnet that draws so many to our State, it’s time we reformed our own State laws to remove the incentives for employers to hire illegal immigrants and return American jobs back to their rightful owners -- American citizens.

“No State agency should be allowed to contract with an employer who fails to certify that he or she is not employing or contracting with illegal immigrants.

“Just as important as these reforms will be in removing the incentives for more illegal immigrants to come to New Jersey, we must also deal with the threat of criminal activity -- particularly violent crime -- caused by those illegal immigrants who are already here,” added Donohue.

“We were all stunned by the brutal murder in Newark two Saturdays ago, and we were even more shocked to learn that the key suspect is an illegal immigrant who had been charged on two separate occasions earlier this year for other crimes -- and let out on bail each time, even though one of the crimes he is alleged to have committed involved sexual assault against a small girl.

“According to press accounts, the suspect’s immigration status was not checked, because that decision was left up to local prosecutors – local prosecutors who made policy decisions not to check the status of those they charge with certain crimes. One of the prosecutors even seemed to suggest that because the suspect had asked for a court-appointed attorney, it was assumed he was a legal resident.

“As this tragic case demonstrates, that policy is bad policy.

“State law should mandate that prosecutors check the immigration status of any suspect taken into custody. And state law should mandate that the costs of a public defender for an illegal immigrant charged with a crime should be sent to the Federal Government for reimbursement. Moreover, New Jersey should adopt the Federal standards that control the sale and transfer of firearms to aliens and non-residents.

“No longer should the taxpaying citizens of New Jersey be required to foot the bill for the Federal Government’s failure to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws,” Donohue continued. “The State Government should seek compensation from Washington for the direct costs to the State of the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants who are here because Washington failed in managing one of its primary responsibilities.

“Nor should anyone in this State receive public benefits -- including workers’ compensation and temporary disability benefits -- without providing proof that he or she is a citizen or a legal alien,” Donohue continued.  “We are in the midst of a fiscal crisis in this state that is only worsened by the burden of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Our policy should not be to create a sanctuary to attract more of these people.”

“Taken as a whole,” Asselta concluded, “these reforms would ease the burden of illegal immigration on our own citizens. It is time for the Trenton Democrats to move. We can afford to wait no longer.”

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Paid for by Asselta Clark Donohue