Countywide : Umberg Offers Bill to Deport Felons

Democratic Assemblyman Tom Umberg, with the backing of Lt. Gov. Leo T. McCarthy, Thursday announced that he will carry a bill to deport illegal immigrants convicted of felonies in California.

The proposal, which Umberg said will be introduced next week in the state Assembly, was inspired by Orange County Superior Court Judge David O. Carter. Carter has allowed Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to interview offenders about to be sentenced for drug-related or violent crimes to determine if they are in the country illegally.

The bill, co-authored by Sen. Ruben Ayala (D-Chino), is supported by McCarthy, a Democrat.

“My legislation rids the state of dangerous felons, saves much-needed state taxpayer funds in probation and parole costs, frees up valuable jail space, helps unclog state courts,” Umberg, of Garden Grove, said during a press conference in Sacramento.

A similar bill carried by U.S. Sen. John Seymour, then a state senator from Anaheim, passed both houses of the Legislature but was vetoed by then-Gov. George Deukmejian for being “unnecessary” and “overly broad.”

Umberg said the problem is increasing, and the U.S. General Accounting Office estimates that 120,000 of 600,000 federal and state prisoners in the United States are illegal immigrants. He said many of them are released onto the streets after serving their sentences.

“They are able to once again deal drugs, participate in gang-related activity, promote violence and commit other serious crimes,” he said.

Some probation workers in Orange County reported that as much as 70% of their cases, which can exceed 100 per officer, involve illegal immigrants. Umberg said his legislation would direct officials to begin deportation paperwork several months before the illegal immigrants are released from prison.

“If we here in California ever expect to win the war on crime, gangs, and drugs, we need to make sure that we are fighting a well-organized and concentrated battle with the use of all our available resources,” Umberg said.