Reform California Chairman Carl DeMaio says Democrats in the California State Legislature are proposing to pass the so-called "Opportunity for All Act" (CA Assembly Bill 2586) that will direct the University of California system - which is the largest agency of the state government - to begin hiring illegal immigrants for taxpayer-funded state jobs. (Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Image)
DeMaio said the bill is instructing the largest state government agency in California, the University of California system, the colleges and universities, to hire illegal immigrants, which violates federal employment law.
"They are telling the managers of state government to knowingly break federal employment law, which is very clear, that it is against federal law for an employer to knowingly hire someone in this country that's not authorized to work. And these illegal immigrants are not authorized to work," DeMaio explained.
He continued by stating that, despite this, the state government has decided to knowingly break the law. He said, according to university lawyers, this not only opens up the manager who's doing the hiring to federal prosecution, but also puts the illegal immigrant in legal jeopardy.
"This is insane. It's offensive. Taxpayers should not be giving state government jobs to illegal immigrants in the state of California. On top of all the welfare benefits and all the other goodies that are being given out," DeMaio said.
BIDEN ADMIN QUIETLY DISMISSES OVER 350K ASYLUM APPLICATIONS FROM IMMIGRANTS SINCE 2022: TRAC
Approximately 30 migrants lined up in an empty parking lot near Jacumba Hot Springs, California, on March 27, 2024. Border Patrol agents have encountered record numbers of illegal immigrants in the San Diego area in recent years, straining both federal and local resources. (Hannah Ray Lambert/Fox News Digital)
DeMaio said that not only is this a California problem, but it's also a national problem.
"This is a national issue because if California continues to dangle carrots at taxpayer expense through their state government to incentivize illegal immigration, we will never secure our border," DeMaio said.
He praised Texas Governor Greg Abbott for "doing his job" and sending the resources needed to shore up Texas' border with Mexico.DeMaio said because Abbott has done so well addressing the border crisis in Texas, the San Diego Sector in California is becoming the number one illegal immigrant crossing point.
DeMaio said this is the first time California has been number one in illegal immigrant crossings since 1999. He said the reason is that Texas has put more security at their border, pushing the flow of illegal immigration to California.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"So even if we do get President Trump back in the Oval Office, even if we do change federal policy at the border, if California politicians continue to roll out a red carpet and give taxpayer funded benefits and taxpayer funded jobs to illegal immigrants, we are going to still have a border crisis, and that will be an impact that will be felt nationally," DeMaio said.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/reform-california-chairman-slams-proposal-mandating-illegal-immigrants-hired-taxpayer-funded-state-jobs