California 2021-2022 Regular Session

California Assembly Bill AJR16 Latest Draft

Bill / Chaptered Version Filed 09/07/2021

                            Assembly Joint Resolution No. 16 CHAPTER 119 Relative to immigration.  [ Filed with  Secretary of State  September 07, 2021. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAJR 16, Reyes. Immigration.This measure would urge the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach in solving our nations broken immigration system.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of values, founded on the principles that all men and women are created equal, and the promise of freedom for all; andWHEREAS, Our strength as a country has always been greater when we welcome newcomers; and WHEREAS, Today, the United States is an economic and innovation powerhouse due to the labor and lands of Indigenous peoples to whom the United States has continuing trust and treaty responsibilities, the labor of enslaved people and their descendants, and generations of immigrants from every corner of the globe; and WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken, antiquated, and does not meet the challenges of the 21st century; and WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 11 million undocumented immigrants are in the United States, and California has the largest population of immigrants, both legal and undocumented; and WHEREAS, Immigrants and their children constitute nearly one-half of Californias population and live and work in all 58 counties, most notably in the San Diego, Central Valley, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, and greater San Francisco areas; and WHEREAS, Approximately 77 percent of undocumented immigrants who reside in California live with family members who are legal United States residents and citizens; and WHEREAS, One in 10 workers in California is an undocumented immigrant, and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital part of the states growing economy; and WHEREAS, Approximately 70 percent of undocumented immigrants have resided in California for at least 10 years and have deep roots in our communities; andWHEREAS, People, businesses, and communities suffer due to an immigration system that is plagued by backlogs, processing delays, and overly complex policies that are inefficient, harmful, and widen the existing deficiencies in the system; and WHEREAS, The majority of Americans support modernizing our nations immigration laws and keeping families together and strengthening our economy; andWHEREAS, Nearly four in five Californians (78 percent) believe immigrants are a benefit to the state and recognize their contributions to the workforce and economy; and WHEREAS, Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional immigration system will uphold our nations basic values of fairness and equity, as well as access to health care; and WHEREAS, A comprehensive, as well as compassionate, approach to solve our broken immigration system should be one that works for all communities and families in America; and WHEREAS, A just immigration reform must ensure that it reflects one of our basic values that we all are created equal and therefore immigration reform must recognize each immigrants full humanity; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach to solving our nations broken immigration system; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, to the Governor of California, and to the author for appropriate distribution. 

 Assembly Joint Resolution No. 16 CHAPTER 119 Relative to immigration.  [ Filed with  Secretary of State  September 07, 2021. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAJR 16, Reyes. Immigration.This measure would urge the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach in solving our nations broken immigration system.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO 

 Assembly Joint Resolution No. 16 CHAPTER 119

 Assembly Joint Resolution No. 16

 CHAPTER 119

 Relative to immigration. 

 [ Filed with  Secretary of State  September 07, 2021. ] 

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AJR 16, Reyes. Immigration.

This measure would urge the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach in solving our nations broken immigration system.

This measure would urge the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach in solving our nations broken immigration system.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of values, founded on the principles that all men and women are created equal, and the promise of freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, Our strength as a country has always been greater when we welcome newcomers; and 

WHEREAS, Today, the United States is an economic and innovation powerhouse due to the labor and lands of Indigenous peoples to whom the United States has continuing trust and treaty responsibilities, the labor of enslaved people and their descendants, and generations of immigrants from every corner of the globe; and 

WHEREAS, The current immigration system is broken, antiquated, and does not meet the challenges of the 21st century; and 

WHEREAS, It is estimated that about 11 million undocumented immigrants are in the United States, and California has the largest population of immigrants, both legal and undocumented; and 

WHEREAS, Immigrants and their children constitute nearly one-half of Californias population and live and work in all 58 counties, most notably in the San Diego, Central Valley, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, and greater San Francisco areas; and 

WHEREAS, Approximately 77 percent of undocumented immigrants who reside in California live with family members who are legal United States residents and citizens; and 

WHEREAS, One in 10 workers in California is an undocumented immigrant, and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital part of the states growing economy; and 

WHEREAS, Approximately 70 percent of undocumented immigrants have resided in California for at least 10 years and have deep roots in our communities; and

WHEREAS, People, businesses, and communities suffer due to an immigration system that is plagued by backlogs, processing delays, and overly complex policies that are inefficient, harmful, and widen the existing deficiencies in the system; and 

WHEREAS, The majority of Americans support modernizing our nations immigration laws and keeping families together and strengthening our economy; and

WHEREAS, Nearly four in five Californians (78 percent) believe immigrants are a benefit to the state and recognize their contributions to the workforce and economy; and 

WHEREAS, Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional immigration system will uphold our nations basic values of fairness and equity, as well as access to health care; and 

WHEREAS, A comprehensive, as well as compassionate, approach to solve our broken immigration system should be one that works for all communities and families in America; and 

WHEREAS, A just immigration reform must ensure that it reflects one of our basic values that we all are created equal and therefore immigration reform must recognize each immigrants full humanity; now, therefore, be it 

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the President, Vice President, and the Congress of the United States to take a workable, humane, and just approach to solving our nations broken immigration system; and be it further 

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, to the Governor of California, and to the author for appropriate distribution.