(VINELAND, August 10) – First District Senator Nick Asselta and his Assembly running mates Norris Clark and Michael Donohue – following up on their statements of earlier this week, and furthering the outlines of their proposals to address social strains caused by illegal immigration here in New Jersey – today called on Trenton Democrats to address the stresses caused by an estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants here in New Jersey, and to put the needs of New Jersey's citizens back in their rightful place above the desires of those whose first act in our nation was to violate our laws. 

"A few days ago, the Governor announced the formation of a 27-member commission that would take 15 months to examine the problems surrounding the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants in New Jersey," said Asselta. "Michael, Norris, and I said at the time, very simply, that we didn't need 27 commissioners and 15 months. All we need to do is to enforce the law. 

"Just because the Federal Government has failed in its responsibility to secure our borders and enforce our laws is no excuse for Trenton Democrats to do the same. 

"For too long, Trenton Democrats have catered too much to the interests and the desires of those whose first act in the United States was to violate our laws. For too long, Trenton Democrats have forgotten that their first responsibility in these areas is to the citizens of this State – the people who work hard, pay their taxes, and play by the rules.  

"Today we call on the Governor and the rest of the Trenton Democrats to acknowledge that their years of focus on the desires of the illegal immigrant population have resulted in tremendous strain on our social infrastructure – overcrowded schools, overcrowded courts, overcrowded hospitals and medical facilities – all at a cost that is borne largely, and almost exclusively, by our own taxpayers," Asselta continued. 

"Equally important are the national security and crime problems surrounding certain elements of the illegal immigrant population," Asselta continued. "In this day and age, it is more important than ever that we know who's living in our communities, or just down the block, or even right next door. 

"It's time we allowed state and local law enforcement authorities to be trained and deputized by Federal authorities to assist in the enforcement of Federal immigration and customs law while performing routine duties. 

"Moreover," Asselta went on, "because we all know that the prospect of employment is the magnet that draws so many to our State, it's time we reformed our own State laws to remove the incentives for employers to hire illegal immigrants and return American jobs back to their rightful owner – American citizens. 

"No State agency should be allowed to contract with an employer who fails to certify that he or she is not employing or contracting with illegal immigrants.  "No longer should the taxpaying citizens of New Jersey be required to foot the bill for the Federal Government's failure to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws," said Donohue. "The State Government should seek compensation from Washington for the direct costs to the State of the estimated 450,000 illegal immigrants who are here because Washington failed in managing one of its primary responsibilities. 

"Nor should anyone in this State receive public benefits including workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits without providing proof that he or she is a citizen or a legal alien," Donohue continued.  "We are in the midst of a fiscal crisis in this state that is only worsened by the burden of hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. Our policy should not be to create a sanctuary to attract more of these people." Donohue concluded, "As a local prosecutor it was troubling to me to find out that an illegal immigrant was the gunman in the Newark murders which left three college students dead.  We are calling on New Jersey to adopt the federal standards which would control the sale and transfer of firearms to aliens and non – residents."  

"We care deeply about the plight of those hundreds of thousands who have come here in violation of our immigration laws," added Clark. "Tens of thousands of them are here against their will – victims of criminal human trafficking, a modern day slave trade that binds them and forces them into unpaid domestic and agricultural services, sweatshop labor, and sometimes even sexual services and prostitution.   

Clark continued, "As a former educator, I see that our institutions of higher education are strained.  One of the proposed reforms – to ease the burden on our higher education system and hardworking families trying to send their children on to college – would prohibit public and private institutions of higher education from admitting anyone who does not hold a lawful Immigration status."

"Moreover, in order to further reduce the strains on our own social infrastructure while simultaneously easing the integration of hundreds of thousands of immigrants into our society and re-binding us together as one people, we believe it is time to join 30 other states in declaring English the official language of our State." 

"Taken as a whole," Asselta concluded, "these reforms would ease the burden of illegal immigration on our own citizens, while at the same time promoting integration and protecting the lives and interests of tens of thousands who are here against their will. It is time for the Trenton Democrats to move. We can afford to wait no longer."     

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Paid for by Asselta Clark Donohue