State Candidates Make ‘Illegals’ Campaign Issue

COURT HOUSE –– Immigration has become a hot button issue in the first district legislative races, but candidates from both sides of the aisle have similar messages.
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) and Sen. Nicholas Asselta (R-1st) are in a heated race for Asselta’s seat, while incumbent Assemblyman Nelson Albano (D-1st) Matthew Milam are vying for the two first district Assembly seats with GOP candidates Norris Clark and Michael Donahue.
Their messages are very alike on issues related to immigration such as the Attorney General’s recent directive to law enforcement, the Governor’s immigration panel and so-called “sanctuary cities.”
Following the brutal murders in August of three teenagers in a Newark schoolyard, in which one of the prime suspects was an illegal immigrant who was out on bail with multiple felony arrests, Attorney General Anne Milgram issued a directive, which calls on local law enforcement agencies to check immigration status of those arrested on certain offences.
Both sides support Milgram’s recent order and think the directive could go even further.
“The Attorney General’s directive doesn’t go far enough,” Asselta said. “By limiting the list of relevant offenses only to those which are ‘indictable’ or for drunk driving, the Attorney General has left off the list too many serious offenses.”
He noted, for instance, that those accused of domestic violence crimes, those who purchase a law enforcement badge, or those who commit theft or pass a bad check do not have their immigration status checked.
“Arrest for any of those offenses, too, should require a status check,” he said.
His colleagues agreed.
“Protecting the security of its citizens is government’s fundamental function,” said Clark. “It makes no difference to a victim whether a criminal has broken a federal law, a state law, or a local ordinance.”
Van Drew also backs Milgram’s directive.
“I am supportive of the Attorney General’s announcement,” Van Drew said. “But, regardless of what we do at the state level, until the federal government effectively enforces the integrity of our borders, we will witness the continual arrival of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants into our country and state.”
The Democrats fear it may put a burden on taxpayers and law enforcement officers.
“Our local, county and state law enforcement agencies are stretched to the limits,” Albano said.
“There is no question that illegal immigration has had a profound impact and substantial cost to New Jersey taxpayers,” Van Drew said.
“If the responsibility for enforcing federal immigration laws falls to local law enforcement, they will either have to neglect some of their current responsibilities or we will have to significantly increase our forces, which would mean an increase in property taxes.”
“Neither one of those are acceptable.”
Both sides also commented on Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s formation of a panel to advise him on how the state can help integrate immigrants into society and prepare the undocumented for a path to legalization.
“The Governor announced the formation of a 27-member commission that would take 15 months to examine the problems surrounding the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants in New Jersey,” said Asselta.
“Michael, Norris, and I said at the time, very simply, that we didn’t need 27 commissioners and 15 months. All we need to do is to enforce the law.”
Immigration, they said, has led to overcrowded schools, courts and medical facilities as well as national security and crime problems.
They suggested some reforms that would quell illegal immigration
“Moreover,” Asselta went on, “because we all know that the prospect of employment is the magnet that draws so many to our State, it’s time we reformed our own State laws to remove the incentives for employers to hire illegal immigrants and return American jobs back to their rightful owner – American citizens.”
Here Van Drew and Albano agreed and sponsored a bill to crack down on employers that hire illegal aliens to avoid paying taxes. The law established criminal penalties and disqualifies certain employers from public work.
GOP candidate Donohue takes it a bit further.
“No longer should the taxpaying citizens of New Jersey be required to foot the bill for the federal government’s failure to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws,” he said.
“The state Government should seek compensation from Washington for the direct costs to the state of the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants who are here because Washington failed in managing one of its primary responsibilities.”
Donohue also said he supports withholding public benefits from illegal aliens.
Clark continued the theme suggesting that public and private institutions of higher education be prohibited from admitting anyone who does not hold a lawful immigration status.
“We believe it is time to join 30 other states in declaring English the official language of our state,” Clark said.
“Taken as a whole,” Asselta concluded, “these reforms would ease the burden of illegal immigration on our own citizens.”
Van Drew said the governor’s panel was a good step, but what the state really needs is sensible legislation like his crackdown on employers and another one dealing with vehicle registration.
The bill he and Albano sponsored will require new state residents to register their vehicles with the state Motor Vehicle Commission within 60 days of moving here.
“There are a limited number of tools that can be utilized by state and local officials to control illegal immigration. This represents a more effective means of controlling illegal immigrants who are illegal drivers,” Van Drew said in a statement.
He also said the state should codify Milgram’s directive into law because it would be more easily enforced.
Both parties oppose “sanctuary cities,” whose leaders do not permit police or municipal employees to inquire about the immigration status of those within the city limits.
Van Drew told the Herald he was against these safe harbor cities, but the Republicans again went a step further. He said the state should prohibit cities from becoming sanctuaries.
“We are in the midst of a fiscal crisis in this state that is only worsened by the burden of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants,” Donohue said. “Our policy should not be to create a sanctuary to attract more of these people.”
“Not enforcing laws against illegal immigration is bad enough,” Asselta continued. “But for a city council in this state to declare the city a so-called ‘sanctuary city’…well that’s beyond bad. It’s nuts.”
(Ed. note: These two stories part of a special Herald series on Immigrants in Cape May County. Next week: Focus on Education, Religion: Immigrants in Cape May County Reflect Changes Here and Elsewhere.)
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com