IMMIGRATION
We affirm the integrity of the international borders of the United States and the constitutional authority and the right of the federal government under the law of nations to guard and to protect those borders, including the regulation of the numbers and of the qualifications of immigrants into the country. Each year some 972,000 legal immigrants and hundreds of thousands of illegal enter the United States. These immigrants including illegal aliens have been made eligible for various kinds of public assistance, including housing, education, Social Security, and legal services. This unconstitutional drain on the federal and NC Treasury is having a severe and adverse impact on our economy, increasing the cost of government at federal and local levels, adding to the tax burden of North Carolinians, and stressing the fabric of society.
Now the federal government in Washington DC and President Vicente Fox of Mexico are talking about having an open border policy between the U.S. and our parastic neighbor to the south.
We favor a moratorium on immigration to the United States and NC in particular, except in individual hardship cases or in other individual special circumstances, until the availability of all federal and NC subsidies and assistance be discontinued. We also insist that every individual group and/or private agency which request the admission of an immigrant to the U.S and NC. on whatever basis be required to legally commit to provide housing and sustenance for such immigrants, bear full responsibility for the economic independence of the immigrants, and post appropriate bonds to seal such covenants.
The SPNC demands that the federal government restore immigration policies based on the practice that potential immigrants will be disqualified from admission to the U.S. or NC if, on the grounds of health, criminality, morals or financial dependency, they would impose an improper burden on the United States, NC, or any citizen of NC.
We oppose the provision of welfare and other taxpayer-supported benefits to illegal aliens, and reject the practice of bestowing U.S. citizenship on children born to illegal alien parents while in NC.
We support the strengthening of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for the proper screening of immigrants, the apprehending and deportation of illegal aliens, and the protection of our borders.
We oppose bilingual ballots. We insist that those who wish to take part in the electoral process and governance of NC should be required to read and comprehend basic English as a precondition of citizenship. We support English as the official language for all governmental business by NC.
Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended says "Any alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge is inadmissible." This provision is intended to prevent immigrants from becoming a burden on the American taxpayer. Some immigrants are exempt from the requirement: refugees, asylees, and all amnestied illegal aliens. Congress has decided that the American people will serve as the sponsors for these immigrants, and pick up the tab for their support.
The Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996 set a new legal standard for the evaluation: the sponsor of the applicant must have an annual income of at least 125 percent of the federally designated poverty level taking into consideration his family size and the number of immigrants he is sponsoring. There are several problems with this standard. The sponsorship income level, only 25 percent higher than the poverty level, is so low that it does not prevent immigrants from going on welfare; in fact it almost guarantees it if the immigrant does not succeed in finding work. Since eligibility for some welfare programs kick in before one's income drops to 125 percent of the poverty level, immigrants and their sponsors can easily also be eligible for welfare.
Not only are aliens who are likely to become public charge not suppose to be admitted as permanent immigrants, but also, if an immigrant does go on welfare, he is supposed to become liable for deportation because they have violated the conditions under which they are admitted, that is they would not become public charges [Immigration and Nationality Act Sec. 237A(5)]. These provisions are not enforced. The most recent INS data show that since 1980, only 12 people have been deported for having become public charges.
[Last updated 09/13/00]