Illegal immigrants used to be just that—illegal aliens who, we were told, came to America to do those jobs the average American wouldn’t. Not any more. Now, they are “undocumented immigrants” who can be appointed commissioners on city advisory boards.

The Huntington Park, California, City Council appointed Francisco Medina and Julian Zatarain to advisory roles on the city’s health and education commission and parks and recreation commission, respectively. City Council member Jhonny Pineda announced the appointment at a council meeting on Monday night.

Trumpet executive editor Stephen Flurry discussed this development in his August 4 Trumpet Daily Radio Show (beginning at 19:48).

Medina and Zatarain are both illegal Mexican immigrants who have been in the United Sates for almost a decade. Neither met the requirements for the Obama administration’s reprieve program for illegal aliens—the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals—so, by law, they should be deported. Instead, they have been given leadership positions.

Councilman Jhonny Pineda praised them for their volunteer activities and involvement in programs relating to immigrants. Which is no surprise: Pineda himself immigrated to the U.S. at 13 years old. When he campaigned for office, he promised that he would generate opportunities for “undocumented immigrants.” Before appointing Medina and Zatarain, the city attorney didn’t find any technical breach of law in appointing illegal, or “undocumented,” immigrants to public office.

Robin Hvidston, executive director of We the People Rising, has a much different view. “To appoint commission seats to individuals who are breaking federal laws demonstrates [a] lack of respect for U.S. law,” she said.

Such appointments “[send] the wrong message to other cities that you can be illegal, and you can come and work for a city,” said community activist Sandra Orozco.

Yet Huntington Park Mayor Karina Macias said she’s “hoping other cities are looking at what we’re doing here.” She thinks Huntington Park is setting an example for the nation to follow.

Actually, Huntington Park is late getting to the party. Several Californian cities have long since declared themselves “sanctuary cities” for illegal aliens, and, in a sense, the United States government has essentially declared itself a de facto illegal immigrant sanctuary nation. California has also already started issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. This summer, the state began offering health-care plans to illegals as well.

The United States is on a slippery slope of lawlessness, and our immigration problem exemplifies this well. Never has there been a greater need to understand the vital importance of law, the painful kickback of compromising with it, and the tendency of human nature to ignore that law.

For more on the negative impact illegal immigration has on nations, read “Nation: A Place With Borders” and “Borderline Breakdown.” Consider also downloading or requesting our free booklets No Freedom Without Law and Human Nature: What Is It?