Illegal Immigration Targeted at Hearing : Policy: Local GOP congressmen hear testimony about the immigrants’ economic and social impact. Critics call the lawmakers’ actions a publicity stunt.

County, state and federal officials called for a tighter border and federal legislation to keep public services from illegal immigrants at a hearing conducted Monday by local Republican congressmen.

The Pasadena hearing was the first of four to be held across the country by the House Republican Research Committee’s Task Force on Illegal Immigration, a group of 31 conservative lawmakers who hope to draft a packet of legislation to stem the flow of immigrants into the United States from Mexico.

The hearing was chaired by U.S. Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale), who was joined by five House colleagues from Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties.

While a small group of protesters marched outside--complaining that immigrants are used as scapegoats for the area’s problems--the lawmakers heard testimony from three groups of panelists, including Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, three members of the state Assembly and Gus de la Vina, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego.

Echoing Gov. Pete Wilson’s recent proposals, the panelists stressed the negative economic impacts of illegal immigration on the state’s health care and prison systems, and called for tighter border controls and tamper-proof identification cards for legal residents. They endorsed legislation to deny citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, and allow local law enforcement agencies and the military to assist the Border Patrol in apprehending illegal immigrants.

Panelists also called for federal lawmakers to set up a fund that would reimburse California for money spent on illegal immigrants, and suggested that the North American Free Trade Agreement require Mexican cooperation in stemming immigration into the United States.

“This hearing is not about U.S. immigration policy. What it’s about is illegal aliens coming into the United States in violation of our law and its social and economic impact on California,” Moorhead said.

California taxpayers spend $2.3 billion a year in health care and criminal justice costs for immigrants, Moorhead said--figures that were supported by the testimony of Ron Joseph, chief deputy of the state Department of Health Services, and Joe Sandoval, secretary of the state Youth and Adult Correctional Agency.

“The floodgates are obviously open and (the immigrants) are heading for the treasure chest,” Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) told panelists. “Our worst fear has been verified by your testimony.”

Other congressmen attending were Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), David Dreier (R-San Dimas), Jay C. Kim (R-Diamond Bar) and Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita).

Much of the testimony focused on illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

“Some of the perception is that all we deal with are mothers and children looking for jobs. Well, that’s not true,” De la Vina said. “We’re dealing with smugglers of narcotics, smugglers of aliens, robbers, burglars and those under the influence.”

But Monday’s hearing also drew criticism that it was a publicity stunt playing on constituents’ xenophobia.

“Their intent is to inflame the fears of citizens of the United States, and that is demagoguery,” said Doug Kahn, who plans to challenge Moorhead for his seat in 1994. “We have to enforce immigration law in this country, but I believe that they’re painting immigrants as criminals at this hearing in order to benefit themselves.”

“The issue of immigration is a profound one, and deserves attention and goodwill, but the demonization of immigrants is inhumane and wrong, particularly if it’s for partisan gain,” said Pasadena Mayor Rick Cole, a Democrat, who briefly attended Monday’s hearing. “People need to stand up for thinking this through with the good sense and compassion that has marked the best of America.”

Outside the U.S. Court of Appeals building, where the event took place, protesters chanted, “We are not illegal here” in Spanish.