10 LC 35 1839ER

Senate Resolution 1395

By: Senators Wiles of the 37th, Hill of the 32nd, Rogers of the 21st, Hudgens of the 47th, Seabaugh of the 28th and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Urging the President and Congress of the United States to secure America’s borders and reject demands to repeat the failed 1986 legalization program for illegal aliens for the protection of American jobs and our homeland; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama declared in his January 27, 2010, State of the Union address that, “We should continue the work of fixing our broken immigration system – to secure our borders and enforce our laws, and ensure that everyone who plays by the rules can contribute to our economy and enrich our nation”; and

WHEREAS, the President further declared on February 5, 2010, “We can’t be satisfied when another 20,000 have joined their ranks and millions more Americans are underemployed, picking up what work they can”; and

WHEREAS, the United States has proudly accepted more legal immigration than any other nation in the world; and

WHEREAS, nearly 15 million Americans are currently without employment, and illegal immigration takes jobs from Americans and lawfully present immigrants and places a heavy burden on the State of Georgia to provide federally mandated benefits and services to illegal aliens; and

WHEREAS, states across the country face mounting difficulties in dealing with the rampant unemployment of citizens and lawful workers who have waited in line, played by the rules, and legally joined the American family; and

WHEREAS, legalizing illegal immigrants who escaped capture while crossing American borders is contrary to the basic principals of fairness and justice upon which this great country was founded; and

WHEREAS, federal legislation in 1986 which legalized approximately 3 million illegal aliens served only to reward illegal activity and to encourage further illegal immigration; and

WHEREAS, estimates of the number of illegal aliens currently present in the United States are between 11 million and 20 million; and

WHEREAS, estimates of the number of illegal aliens in Georgia are between 450,000 and 1 million; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is unable to withstand the financial burden created by illegal immigration; and

WHEREAS, illegal immigration threatens the security and public safety of all Georgians; and

WHEREAS, illegal immigration negatively impacts all aspects of the State of Georgia, including the economy, social services, education services, the criminal justice system, and health care services; and

WHEREAS, Georgia’s budget cannot withstand the added burden of benefits for which presently illegal aliens would become eligible with the removal of illegal immigration status; and

WHEREAS, an illegal labor market, fraudulent documents, and uncontrolled borders undermine our national security; and

WHEREAS, enforcement of American immigration laws has proven to be the real solution to encouraging illegal aliens to migrate out of the United States and Georgia and to reduce further illegal immigration; and

WHEREAS, immigration reform must reflect and serve the interests and needs of the American people by addressing the national issues of homeland security and the economy; and

WHEREAS, any future immigration reform therefore must reject amnesty and be founded on the principals of enforcement and border security; and

WHEREAS, it is the right and duty of each state to defend and protect its citizens from the dangers and costs resulting from lack of border security and absence of strict immigration law enforcement by the federal government; and

WHEREAS, this body should enthusiastically encourage the adoption of laws which enforce federal immigration requirements.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
urge the President and Congress of the United States to secure America’s borders and reject demands to repeat the failed 1986 legalization program for illegal aliens for the protection of American jobs and our homeland.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to each member of the Georgia congressional delegation and the President of the United States.

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