US: Crackdown on Undocumented Workers Yet Leniency for Tax Payers!

Illegal immigrant, resident of California since 2008 and have been paying taxes to be treated leniently.

An Exchange – As per an under a ballot initiative suggested by a San Fernando Valley assemblyman, undocumented workers would shell out state income taxes in exchange for the hope of leniency on federal immigration laws. This comes despite the intense crackdown regime that the federal government has adopted lately on undocumented immigrants.

After Approval – If it passes the approval of the majority, the California Opportunity and Prosperity Act would not promise security against deporting. However, it would allow the governor of California to ask the president of the United States to demote these illegal workers to their least priority as they put into effect federal immigration laws. Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Sylmar, assumes the ballot proposal would put up to $325 million annually into the state's undersized proceeds.

Proposal In Details – Fuentes gave more details about the proposal.

"Our proposal is to make a five-year pilot program that effectively recognizes about a million undocumented workers entitled following a severe norm," he said. "We are well aware of fact that the federal government has taken a tiered policy structure on the way they will implement immigration laws. Hence, those involved in the pilot program will be of the lowest priority tier of enforcement."

Failure – Fuentes has estimated for about a million workers currently are undocumented and pay state income taxes as well. He has full faith in the initiative and is firm that it will persuade another million undocumented workers to registers themselves as tax payers. The co-sponsor of the proposal, John Cruz, a Republican former appointments secretary for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes there is a long way to go. He is certain that the federal government has failed to pass immigration reform, and this is a kind proposal that would help a lot of people.

Further Criticism – Tim Donnelly, Republican Assemblyman criticized the initiative, claiming that it would make California a shelter state by giving some veneer of legal status to such illegal immigrants.

"The state will give you (undocumented immigrants) free medical care as well as free K-12 education. This is absurd. Plus, with the Dream Act, we're giving away free college tuition," he said. "We're nuts! We can’t give more incentives to people who come here through illegal means”, he added.

Eligibility Criteria – The undocumented workers need to comply with the following eligibility criteria:

• Should have no felony convictions.
• Should have an untainted criminal recorded.
• Should know or are learning English.
• Should pay a process fee and provide a photograph.
• Have to be residents of California since 2008.

The leaders of the initiative hope to start gathering signatures at the earliest.