Poizner launches ad targeting undocumented immigrants

Gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner continues to frame himself as the anti-undocumented immigrant candidate.

Tomorrow he'll start running a 30-second ad blasting the estimated 2.6 million undocumented immigrants living in California for the toll they take on the state's budget and economy.

Poizner's immigration platform includes:

• Cutting taxpayer-funded benefits to undocuments mmigrants, including ending in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants at state colleges and universities

• Holding employers responsible for following the law, including revoking business licenses from businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants

• Ending sanctuary city practices, including reporting all undocumented immigrants arrested for criminal activity to federal immigration authorities.

• Securing borders, including creating a multi-state national guard partnership

Immigrant rights advocates are none too pleased with the new ad. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) executive director Angelica Salas released this statement: 

"Newsflash to California gubernatorial candidate Stephen Poizner: more than forty-five percent of the residents in the Golden State are immigrant and they live in virtually all 58 counties. More than sixty percent of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District are sons and daughters of immigrants and U.S. citizens. Immigrants comprise one-third of the labor force and through their entrepreneurial spirit have created 72,839 jobs and generated more than $19.5 billion in sales in California.

The next leader in California must be willing and able to unite Californians during tough times not divide them by pitting one population against another. The next leader in California must know that under federal and state mandate all children have the right to receive an education for the benefit and well being of our society. The next leader in California must care about the state's history of immigration and must be aware that undocumented immigrants do not qualify for many social and medical services they are accused of overwhelming.

Candidates like Stephen Poizner must lead forward not take us back to a time we fought long and hard to leave behind. Poizner must fully understand and learn about the state he is interested in governing before he decides to take one more step towards his own defeat."