Congressman Elton Gallegly To Take Over As Chairman Of House Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement

In a surprise move GOP House Leadership announced this week that immigration hard liner Representative Steve King of Iowa would not be the new Chairman of the subcommittee on immigration policy and enforcement but had appointed Representative Elton Gallegly of California to the committee post.

While Gallegly is not as well known on immigration issues, he is of a similar disposition as King, just not as outspoken. The American Immigration Lawyers Association has released a helpful face sheet on him here:

Some highlights are below:

Legislative History

In 1995 he chaired the Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform which set the groundwork for IIRIRA in 1996. Additionally, he sponsored an amendment to IIRIRA that would have allowed states to bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools Gallegly recommended the Basic Pilot Program, which has evolved into E-Verify.

• In 2006, Gallegly was recognized as one of the Top Ten Illegal Immigration Hawks in Congress by Human Events Magazine and inducted into the U.S. Border Control Hall of Fame.
• During the opening weeks of the 112th Congress, Gallegly has cosponsored legislation to: Require the creation and use of electronically readable Social Security cards and an employment eligibility database within the next two years (H.R. 98).

Legislative Interests:

• Repeal Birthright Citizenship
• Mandate the use of E-Verify
• Limit legal immigration by eliminating visas for unskilled workers, two family preferences categories, and the Diversity Visa program.
• Require proof of citizenship to receive public benefits such as SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan 
• Make English the official language of the United States

It is safe to say that while he is not as vocal as King, they share similar views on undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Stay tuned, for what is sure to be an interesting upcoming Congressional session.