Supervisors Split on Controversial Bill

SANTA ANA — The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday deadlocked on whether to support a controversial bill in Congress that would deny automatic citizenship to children of immigrants who are not citizens.

The board will take up the issue again at next week’s meeting, when Supervisor Thomas W. Wilson will be present.

Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Jim Silva proposed a resolution supporting the bill, which they said would make California less of a magnet for illegal immigrants and save the county millions of dollars in social services costs.

Illegal immigration is “a huge drain,” said Spitzer, noting that the county spends more than $30 million a year in aid to immigrants.

Silva agreed: “We cannot reward people for illegal activities.”

But Chairman William G. Steiner expressed strong opposition to the proposal. “It’s not in the best interests of the Board of Supervisors to challenge the [U.S.] Constitution or to embrace issues that polarize our community and fuel a divisive debate,” he said.

Supervisor Charles V. Smith said that he too is concerned about the high costs of illegal immigration but that the county should not get involved in what he considers a federal issue. Smith said he will abstain from voting.

“I feel very strongly that it is not the purpose of the Board of Supervisors’ meeting to promote the personal political agendas of any board member,” he said.