74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 3844
 
                    House Joint Resolution 57
 
Sponsored by Representatives THATCHER, FLORES; Representatives
  BRUUN, CAMERON, DALLUM, ESQUIVEL, GILLIAM, GILMAN, HANNA,
  KRIEGER, KRUMMEL, MAURER, MORGAN, NELSON, OLSON, RICHARDSON,
  SCOTT, WHISNANT
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Calls upon President and Congress to take certain actions
relating to illegal immigration. States beliefs of Legislative
Assembly regarding immigration and citizenship. Salutes hard
work, determination and dedication of lawful immigrants to
Oregon.
 
                        JOINT RESOLUTION
  Whereas the United States of America is a nation of immigrants
who have come to these shores seeking freedom and opportunity and
who have worked hard to make this country great; and
  Whereas the United States stands as a beacon of hope to the
people of the world; and
  Whereas immigration law is principally the responsibility of
our federal government, but immigration activity has a
significant effect on the governments of the various states; and
  Whereas legal immigrants endure a long, difficult process for
the privilege of earning legal residency and citizenship; and
  Whereas past programs have allowed agricultural and other
businesses to meet legitimate needs in a legal manner; and
  Whereas in recent years the federal government has failed to
adequately enforce immigration laws and protect our borders,
resulting in millions of illegal immigrants living within our
borders without supervision; and
  Whereas credible estimates put Oregon's illegal immigrant
population as high as 175,000 individuals; and
  Whereas the failure of the federal government to control the
stream of illegal immigrants into our country and state has been
accompanied by a flood of dangerous illegal drugs, most notably
methamphetamine, which has destroyed many lives and scourged our
communities; and
  Whereas failure to enforce immigration laws results in a lack
of respect for all laws generally and has left us exposed to the
entry of terrorists and criminals from other lands into our
country; and
  Whereas the influx of illegal immigrants has made it difficult,
and in some cases impossible, for civil authorities to provide
adequate public services, most notably in the critical areas of
health care, education and public safety; and
  Whereas illegal immigration harms the immigrants themselves, as
they are unable to fully participate in American society and are
often exploited in housing and working environments for fear of
contacting civil authorities for assistance; and
  Whereas illegal immigration harms the country of the
immigrants' origin by draining their native lands of the labor
and talent necessary to foster economic opportunity in their home
countries, thereby weakening such nations and the regions
surrounding them; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The members of the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly:
  (a) Call upon the President and the Congress of the United
States to take whatever actions are necessary to fully protect
America's borders and fully enforce our immigration laws.
  (b) Call upon the President and the Congress to enact laws that
require states to fully cooperate with the federal government in
the enforcement of immigration laws.
  (c) Call upon the President and the Congress to enact and
enforce a fair program that respects legal immigrants by not
rewarding those who have come illegally, yet allows those who
would respect our laws to come to the United States temporarily
for the purpose of providing valuable labor, under careful
limitations designed to ensure that such employment does not
unfairly undermine work opportunities for American citizens.
  (d) Believe that the State of Oregon needs to ensure the
integrity of our electoral process by requiring prospective voter
registrants to provide proof of citizenship.
  (e) Believe that state and local law enforcement officials
should be given the legal authority to help enforce federal
immigration laws.
  (f) Believe that the State of Oregon should fully implement the
requirements of the federal Real ID Act.
  (g) Believe that the Employment Department should fairly
administer the federal H2A Visa program.
  (h) Believe that the State of Oregon should establish English
as the official language of Oregon.
  (2) The members of the Seventy-fourth Legislative Assembly
salute the hard work, determination and dedication of lawful
immigrants to Oregon, who have made great and lasting
contributions to the culture, health, strength and vitality of
Oregon.
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