California Leaders Submit Brief to Supreme Court Stating Undocumented Workers Make the State Stronger
A who's who list of leaders from California are urging the Supreme Court to uphold President Obama's executive order potentially offering temporary relief to as many as 5 million illegal immigrants when the case goes before the court late next month.
The group of business, education, law enforcement and religious leaders has already informed the court they are convinced undocumented workers are making the state more prosperous. California is home to nearly 3 million of the country's estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.
"Representing just 7% of the state's population, [they] make up 34% of its farm workers, 22% of its production workers and 21% of its construction workers according to one estimate," the group outlined in a brief filed with the court. "Today, the undocumented workforce alone contributes $130 billion to California's gross domestic product (GDP) --- an amount larger than the entire respective GDPs of 19 other states."
Undocumented Workers Are Glue Holding L.A. Together
Immigrants have also helped Los Angeles retain its status as the largest manufacturing center in the U.S., well outpacing other such metropolises as Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia.
"It's easy to get caught up in the white-hot political debate over this issue," said Jot Condie, chief executive of the California Restaurant Association. "But for us, this simply comes down to people - our fellow churchgoers, classmates, neighbors and hard-working individuals. Millions of loving families hang in the balance. Kicking the can on immigration reform can no longer be an option."
Proposed in 2014, the president's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans plan would offer deportation relief and provide work permits to roughly 1.1 million Californians who are parents of legal children.
High Court Down to Just Eight Justices
The Supreme Court, down to just eight justices with the recent death of conservative Antonin Scalia, will hear arguments in the case United States vs. Texas on April 18.
The legal wrangling began after Texas officials and about two dozen other leaders from Republican-led states filed a lawsuit insisting that the president did not have legal authority to enact his proposed immigration changes.
A Texas judge agreed, issuing an order that prevents the legislation from becoming law and setting the stage for the Supreme Court showdown. If the justices' decision were to end in a tie, the law of the land would revert back to the lower court's decision to prevent the president's order from taking effect.
Kamala Harris, GOP Weigh in
That idea doesn't sit well with California Attorney Gen. Kamala Harris. Earlier this month she filed a separate friend-of-the-court brief in which she argued the president's order was a "common sense action on immigration which will allow millions of hard-working immigrants to come out of the shadows, contribute to the prosperity of this nation and build the American dream."
She was supported in her action by at least 15 other Democratic-led states.
Recently, Republican Majority House Leader Paul Ryan revealed the GOP also planned to be heard by the court, voicing the party's opposition to the president's proposal. GOP leaders are hoping to secure time before the court during the oral arguments phase of the proceedings. Former Solicitor General Paul Clement is rumored to be representing Ryan and the Republicans on a pro bono basis.
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