O.C. Supervisors Back Citizenship Denial

Capping weeks of emotional debate, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to support a controversial bill in Congress that would deny automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants.

Although the decision is largely symbolic, it drew great attention from all sides of the immigration debate and highlighted division over the issue on the Board of Supervisors.

More than two dozen speakers addressed the board on the matter Tuesday, with supporters outnumbering opponents roughly 2 to 1.

“This is the right thing to do,” said Barbara Coe, a vocal foe of illegal immigration who supported the bill. “We should be enforcing the law against these illegal invaders, not rewarding them . . . by granting their children citizenship.”

But opponents labeled the bill as “racist” legislation that wrongly punishes children. “This is a very divisive issue in my opinion and a very racist approach,” said Santa Ana attorney Alfredo Amezcua.

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The board resolution supporting the end of automatic citizenship was proposed by Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Jim Silva, who said it would make Southern California less of a magnet for illegal immigrants. Spitzer said the county spends $3.4 million a month on social and health services for children of illegal immigrants.

“I think the message we have sent out is that Orange County is tired of paying for these programs . . . and that we have to control our borders,” Spitzer said. “We are trying to address a very serious problem.”

Spitzer and Silva were joined in supporting the proposal by Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson, who nonetheless expressed misgivings about the board’s action.

“In my view, this issue has more political bark than bite,” Wilson said. “It seems to be orchestrated more for the press than for the people.”

Still, Wilson said he did recognize problems created by illegal immigration and said he supported the intentions of the bill. But the supervisor also proposed that the board next month take a “comprehensive” look at all the immigration-related legislation in Congress in search of other actions the county might take.

Supervisor Charles V. Smith abstained from the vote. “It’s very divisive, and it’s not going to solve the problem,” Smith said. “I don’t want this kind of issue being brought to the board.”

Board of Supervisors Chairman William G. Steiner has been the most outspoken critic of the proposal, saying it punishes children for the actions of their parents.

Other opponents expressed their own misgivings. “This has nothing to do with immigration,” said Juan Garcia, a Santa Ana community activist. “But it gets brownie points with the right wing.”

Spitzer, however, said the resolution is a sound approach to the complicated problem of illegal immigration.

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“It’s an issue that’s become so uncontrollable, it’s making it nearly impossible for those of us trying to [have] programs in the local community,” he said. “To paint this issue as racist or anti-anything is farthest from the truth.”

Others agreed. “One of the [prime] reasons that draws illegal immigrants to the U.S. is the benefits they will receive because their children are born in this country,” said speaker William King. “When will this insanity stop?”