Republican Platform of Iowa back Oklahoma HB 1804 and "Official English"

Republican Platform of Iowa
2008 Report of the Committee on Platform

9. Immigration and Homeland Security

We believe that Congress should establish an immigration policy that furthers the cultural, social, and economic interests of the United States, and that a sound immigration policy coupled with vigorous enforcement of immigration laws is essential to securing our homeland.

9.1. We believe only United States citizens or legal immigrants are entitled to constitutional protections or government services.

9.2. We support empowering local and state governments in cooperation with federal agencies in identifying and processing illegal immigrants.

9.3. We call for English to be designated as the official language of the United States.

9.4. We believe English should be the official language of both the State of Iowa and the federal governments.

9.5. We propose heavy monetary fines against employers and businesses that willfully hire illegal immigrants. We propose criminal penalties for repeat offenders and willful non-compliance.

9.6. We support an increase in the number of visas for highly educated immigrants or those with special skills.

9.7. Illegal immigrants who commit felonies should be deported.

9.8. There should be a transient worker visa program making it easier for law enforcement to identify legal workers in the United States.

9.9. We insist that the Iowa Legislature follow the lead of the state of Oklahoma which adopted Oklahoma House Bill 1804 which addresses the illegal alien problems dealing with identity theft, terminates public assistance benefits to illegal aliens, empowers state and local police to enforce federal immigration laws, and punishes employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens.

9.10. We call on the Iowa Legislature to enact legislation similar to that of the Legal Arizona Workers’ Act.

9.11. We support the use of the EVerify verification system to confirm immigration status.

9.12. We support building a fence to protect the United States’ borders from illegal immigrants.

9.13. We call for the immediate pardon of border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean and any other border agents wrongly imprisoned while protecting our United States borders.

9.14. We assert that the Constitution of the United States grants birthright Citizenship only to those children born to a parent or parents who are citizens of the United States and not to those children of visiting foreigners, those here on work visas, or illegal aliens.

9.15. We are opposed to sanctuary cities and/or states, and they should not receive federal funding.

9.16. We believe the census at the end of each decade, which is used to determine representation according to population, should be used only for the reapportionment of current citizens and legal immigrants.

9.17. We believe there should be a death penalty for someone caught and convicted of carrying out a terrorist attack on U.S. soil where there was a death or the intent to cause death.

9.18. We support Section 287(g), Delegation of Immigration Authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a joint effort between local, state, and federal agencies to enforce existing laws.

9.19. We oppose driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants.

9.20. We oppose any and all nationally based I.D. systems and call for an immediate repeal of the Real I.D. Act.

9.21. We support a legal test case asserting an interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that children born to illegal immigrants do not automatically become United States Citizens.

9.22. We support the continued use of Guantanamo Prison as long as needed.