Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich issued the following statement on the defeat of the immigration bill in the U.S. Senate: “Rewarding illegal aliens with amnesty undermines the rule of law.  This bill failed because Americans of all political persuasions vigorously opposed amnesty for 12 million illegals who violated the law. 

Taxpayers rejected another blank check for taxpayer-subsidized services.  This proposal would have been another roadblock for those attempting to immigrate lawfully. 

It is imperative that our current laws are enforced and our borders are protected.  The Mexican government must also be encouraged to create jobs through privatization and reduce its economic reliance on American dollars being sent to Mexico — $1.7 billion American dollars in May alone.

Illegals have had a catastrophic economic impact on Los Angeles County costing taxpayers $440 million annually in welfare payments and food stamps.  25% of our jail population is illegal costing taxpayers $220 million a year and medical services cost $360 million annually.  This billion dollars does not include the billions of dollars spent on education for illegals and their children.”

Antonovich’s Solutions for Illegal Immigration
 

  • To develop a stable economy and reduce the exodus of Mexicans immigrating to America for jobs and opportunity, the United States government needs to encourage Mexico to privatize their state-run oil company. Just as England, China, the Eastern European nations and the Dominican Republic have economically benefited through the selling of their state-run companies and a market-based economy, Mexico can also grow economically through public-private partnerships to increase opportunity for their citizens.
     
  • Establish a system of medical centers on the Mexican side of the border, staffed by American doctors and medical students along with Mexican doctors and students working cooperatively with local medical schools to provide service and share medical techniques while reducing the incentive for individuals to come here illegally.
  • Create a bonded guest worker program that allows an immigrant to work in our Country temporarily while bonded for any medical care they may need while in the United States.
  • Establish a trained reserve component of the U.S. Border Patrol similar to reserve units utilized by thousands of police and sheriff departments across the nation to increase the number of Border Patrol agents defending our borders. This program of reserve officers has been extremely successful and provided local law enforcement with a group of dedicated and trained law enforcement officers who serve at a minimal cost of only $1 a year in most cases.
     
  • Create a Social Security number verification system and employer hotline utilizing modern technology similar to that used by retailers for VISA and MasterCard processing which can verify an individual’s immigration status in seconds. 
  • Increase funding for more prosecutions by the United States  Attorney for those who violate immigration laws. 

The federal government also needs to fully fund the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (S.C.A.A.P.) and all of the other unfunded services provided to illegal aliens to recognize the economic impact illegal immigration has on local government.