Bill Text: NJ ACR234 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expresses disagreement with Governor's decision to support lawsuit challenging President Obama's immigration reform.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-06-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [ACR234 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR234-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 234
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2015
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Expresses disagreement with Governor's decision to support lawsuit challenging President Obama's immigration reform.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution expressing disagreement with the Governor's decision to support a lawsuit challenging President Obama's immigration reform.
Whereas, President Obama issued an executive order in November 2014 that would have created two programs designed to defer deportation for millions nationally; and
Whereas, One program would have allowed unauthorized immigrants who have citizen children to apply for temporary relief from deportation, allowing them to apply for work permits, Social Security numbers, and driver's licenses; and
Whereas, The second program would have expanded a 2012 executive order deferring deportation for those who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents, which was limited to children who were 16 years of age or younger when they entered the United States and had an age limit of 31; and
Whereas, Under the new program, eligibility would have been expanded to cover those who came into the United States when they were 18 years of age or younger and would not have included an age limit; and
Whereas, The executive order was put on hold in February 2015, just days before going into effect, after a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction as a result of a lawsuit filed by 26 states that was aimed at blocking President Obama's immigration policies; and
Whereas, The Obama administration appealed and filed for an emergency stay to allow applicants who could qualify for the programs to register while the lawsuit proceeds; and
Whereas, Fourteen states, led by Washington State, filed an amicus brief in support of President Obama's programs arguing they were constitutional and would be beneficial to the economy and public safety; and
Whereas, Recently, Governor Christie joined Texas, Louisiana, and South Dakota in filing an amicus brief requesting that the court maintain the injunction barring enforcement of President Obama's executive order; and
Whereas, Specifically, the brief argues that President Obama's executive order would cause the states irreparable harm because it would allow the issuance of driver's licenses, work permits, and Social Security numbers, which in turn will allow unauthorized immigrants to receive additional benefits, at a cost to the states; and also questions whether President Obama can unilaterally legalize the presence of millions of people, claiming that the executive order usurps Congress' legislative authority; and
Whereas, According to President Obama's administration, the executive order would have aided approximately five million immigrants nationally, most of whom would be the parents of citizen children; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, unauthorized immigrants made up more than eight percent of the workforce in 2012, the fourth-highest percentage in the country; and
Whereas, The deferred action programs could benefit an estimated 149,000 immigrants in New Jersey, in addition to boosting the State's economy; and
Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper for this Legislature to express disagreement with Governor Christie's decision to join in the filing of a brief calling on the federal court to maintain the injunction that has prevented the Obama administration from implementing the deportation relief programs; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of this State expresses disagreement with Governor Christie's decision to join in the filing of a brief calling on the court to maintain the injunction that has prevented the Obama administration from implementing the deportation relief programs.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of this State, the President and Vice-President of the United States, and to every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution expresses disagreement with the Governor's decision to support the lawsuit challenging President Obama's immigration reform.
President Obama issued an executive order in November 2014 that would have created two programs designed to defer deportation for millions nationally. One program would have allowed unauthorized immigrants who had citizen children to apply for temporary relief from deportation, allowing them to apply for work permits, Social Security numbers, and driver's licenses. The second program would have expanded a 2012 executive order to allow more children who were brought to the United States illegally by their parents to stay in the country legally.
The executive order was put on hold days before going into effect after a federal judge in Texas issued an injunction as a result of a lawsuit filed by 26 states that was aimed at blocking President Obama's immigration policies.
The Obama administration appealed and filed for an emergency stay to allow applicants who could qualify for the programs to register while the lawsuit proceeds. In addition, 14 states filed an amicus brief in support of President Obama's programs, saying they were constitutional and would be beneficial to the economy and public safety.
Recently, Governor Christie joined Texas, Louisiana, and South Dakota in filing an amicus brief that requests that the court maintain the injunction barring enforcement of President Obama's executive order. The brief argues that President Obama's executive order would cause the states irreparable harm and also questions whether President Obama can unilaterally legalize the presence of millions of people.
According to President Obama's administration, the executive order would have aided approximately five million immigrants nationally, most of whom would be the parents of citizen children. In this State, the deferred action programs could benefit an estimated 149,000 immigrants, in addition to boosting the State's economy.
