Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio is slamming a bill proposed by Democrats in the California Assembly that would direct the University of California system to hire undocumented immigrants for taxpayer-funded state jobs.
“We’ve seen a lot of outrageous proposals from California Democratic politicians who are doing everything they can to make it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the country and take advantage of taxpayer benefits, but this certainly tops the list of insane ideas,” DeMaio told Fox News Digital.
If passed, Assembly Bill 2586 would give illegal immigrants state government jobs at taxpayer expense. Specifically, DeMaio said it would require illegal immigrants who do not have authorization to work in the United States to apply for and take jobs offered through the state’s taxpayer-funded universities.
“By passing a law requiring illegal immigrants to be hired in taxpayer-funded state government jobs, California Democrats are not only exacerbating the border crisis, they are blatantly violating federal employment laws that prohibit the hiring of illegal immigrants!” DeMaio said.
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Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio said Democrats in the California Assembly are proposing to pass the so-called “Opportunity for All Act” (California Assembly Bill 2586) that would direct the University of California system, the state’s largest institution, to hire undocumented immigrants in taxpayer-funded state jobs. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)
DeMaio said the bill would direct California’s largest state government agency, the University of California system, and universities to hire undocumented immigrants, violating federal employment law.
“They’re directing state administrators to knowingly break federal employment law. It’s very clear that it’s a violation of federal law for an employer to knowingly hire someone who is not authorized to work in this country. And these illegal immigrants are not authorized to work,” DeMaio explained.
He went on to say that, nevertheless, the state government decided to knowingly break the law, which, according to university lawyers, would not only expose hiring administrators to federal prosecution but would also put undocumented immigrants at legal risk.
“This is outrageous. This is repulsive. Taxpayers should not be giving state government jobs to illegal immigrants in California, on top of the welfare benefits and other perks they are given,” DeMaio said.
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May 23, 2024: Illegal immigrants wait to be apprehended at the southern border. (Bill Melgin/Fox News)
DeMaio said the University of California Board of Regents, the Regents and even the University of California system, whose board is appointed by the governor, backed away from the proposal a year ago because university lawyers said the bill would raise legal questions.
“This is a clear case of a violation of federal law. The University of California Board of Regents chose not to enforce this policy, and now politicians in the California Assembly are trying to mandate it by passing this law,” DeMaio explained.
DeMaio emphasized the bill’s swift action. It passed the state Assembly by a vote of 59-4. It now awaits the state Senate, where he worries it will pass and become law. He said the bill is “just like so many other bad policies that encourage illegal immigration into California.”
“This is problematic on two fronts. First, it’s repugnant to give taxpayer-funded state government jobs to illegal immigrants in violation of federal law, putting everyone at legal risk,” DeMaio said.
“But secondly, let me be clear that California politicians are marketers of human trafficking. They give out all sorts of perks at taxpayer expense, like free health care, sanctuary laws, government jobs. They put a lot of perks on the table at taxpayer expense, and human traffickers use that to lure and encourage illegal migration across the California-Mexico border.”
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About 30 migrants lined up in an empty parking lot near Jacumba Hot Springs, California, on March 27, 2024. Border Patrol agents have encountered record numbers of illegal immigrants in the San Diego area in recent years, straining both federal and local resources. (Hannah Rae Lambert/Fox News Digital)
DeMaio said this isn’t just a California issue, but a national one.
“This is a national issue. If California continues to cheat and encourage illegal immigration at taxpayer expense through its state government, we will never have a secure border,” DeMaio said.
DeMaio praised Texas Governor Greg Abbott for “doing his job” and sending needed resources to strengthen the border with Mexico, saying Abbott has handled the border crisis in Texas so well that the San Diego area in California is becoming a major crossing point for illegal immigrants..
DeMaio said this is the first time since 1999 that California has ranked first for illegal border crossings. He said that’s because Texas has stepped up border security, pushing a flow of illegal immigrants into California.
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“So even if President Trump returns to the Oval Office and federal policy on the border changes, if California politicians continue to roll out the red carpet and give taxpayer-funded benefits and jobs to illegal immigrants, the border crisis will still continue and its effects will be felt across the country,” DeMaio said.
