California Assemblyman Jeff Gorell and wife, Laura
Photo: Facebook

After getting spanked by Hispanic voters in the last election, California Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gorell has changed his position on illegal immigration and wants to bring the GOP along with him.

In an op-ed piece yesterday in the Sacramento Bee, Gorell, a Camarillo Republican outlines his newly found position.

It’s time for Congress and the president to enact comprehensive immigration reform. And it’s time for Republicans to shift their position on the issue, indeed not only embracing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, but championing the cause. Doing so is the right thing to do, and it is consistent with the history and core values of the party of Lincoln and Reagan.

The Grand Old Party has long stood for opportunity and against tyranny. Republican defense of free markets and limited government has helped create economic opportunities and prosperity unlike any other country in the world.

These opportunities have attracted families to America who flee the economies of more intrusive, restrictive governments they leave behind. They are, as immigrants have been through America’s history, grateful neighbors who bring a strong work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit to their adopted home country.

Unfortunately, the federal government has failed its responsibilities for managing immigration controls and policy, and as a result has placed Californians in an unacceptable position. By inaction in Washington, we are essentially asked to ignore our undocumented neighbors – many of whom are my constituents – and simply pretend they are not there. This simply cannot continue.

Jeff is simply Hispanic pandering, since against a generic, unknown Democrat, he did not meet up to expectations at the polls. He lost by over thirty points in heavily Hispanic Oxnard.

Hispanic outreach is one thing, but to dramatically ask for a shift in immigration policy – one that amounts to a blanket amnesty for millions of lawbreakers is not in the interests of California.

Jeff, there is plenty of time for outreach and plenty of time for the Congress to debate and enact a sensible change to immigration policy.

But, your histrionics will not help Republicans or California.