Biography

Joseph Turner resides in the Cal State area of San Bernardino. One of his two children is of school age and attends school in the San Bernardino City Unified School District.

Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Turner has spent over a quarter of his life in San Bernardino, attending Bradley, Del Rosa and Riley elementary schools. After graduating from John W. North High School in Riverside, California, Turner earned a degree in finance from the top ranked University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.

In response to the massive influx of illegal aliens into our nation, Turner founded one of the most active anti-illegal immigration organizations in the country. Save Our State, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2004, was one of the first non-profit anti-illegal immigration organizations in the nation. Save Our State was the first organization to consistently target illegal alien day laborer centers and elevated the day laborer phenomenon into the national discourse.

Widely considered the most aggressive anti-illegal immigration organization in the nation, Save Our State and/or Joseph Turner have been featured on CNN's Lou Dobbs, Hannity & Colmes, MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times and scores of other newspapers, magazines and talk radio programs.

Turner authored the City of San Bernardino Illegal Immigration Relief Act initiative. The initiative would have empowered the City of San Bernardino with the mandate and tools to combat illegal immigration. It would have made it illegal for landlords to rent to illegal aliens, stripped businesses of their business licenses if they aided and abetted illegal aliens and prohibited the city from funding day labor centers with our tax dollars. Although Turner followed the rules exactly as provided and gathered the requisite number of signatures, a judge ruled that the City had incorrectly calculated the required number of signatures and disqualified the initiative.

This landmark initiative marked the first time anyone ever sought to use the local initiative process to mitigate the harmful impacts of illegal immigration by going after businesses and landlords. As a result of Turner's creativity and tireless efforts gathering signatures, local governments all across the country have either passed similar ordinances or are in the process of passing similar ordinances. It is believed that this issue will be debated before the Supreme Court in the very near future. It started here in San Bernardino.

Turner’s passion for service and unwavering commitment is derived from his experiences growing up in less than desirable circumstance. Turner is the quintessential American success story.

Turner was born to alcoholic parents who divorced at an early age. His biological father walked out of his life completely soon thereafter. While working at Chino State Prison, his mother met and fell in love with a Hispanic inmate who was a gangbanger from the East Los Angeles neighborhood of Belvedere Gardens, or "Maravilla". Soon after their marriage, his parents plunged into a world of drug abuse and both of his parents served several different stints in prison. Turner and his brother were split apart as they moved from friends’ and relatives’ homes.

Because of his parents’ heroin and speed addiction, Turner's family was at times homeless or "on the run" from various law enforcement jurisdictions being forced to reside in many downtrodden neighborhoods and ghettos. As a result of their addiction, all material possessions were pawned off or sold in order to purchase drugs. Food stamps were also exchanged for drugs or money to buy drugs. At a young age, Turner would often be left alone to fend for himself.

Under these unfortunate conditions, Turner turned to education for solace. He always excelled in school and resisted the negative influences and temptations that surrounded him. He was determined to become an exception to the statistics rather than be victimized by them. Through sheer will and determination, Turner has scratched and clawed for everything he has accomplished, including his graduation from the prestigious Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

After numerous attempts to kick their drug habits, his parents finally found salvation through Jesus Christ and were rehabilitated through Victory Outreach Ministries. As a teenager, Turner grew up in the group home his parents administered for the Church. In this environment nearly all of his friends were black or Hispanic and from backgrounds similar to his.

For over 15 years, his parents have been clean, sober and productive members of society. Turner considers his stepfather his “real” father and is proud of his persistence in overcoming his personal struggles and his commitment to helping others who are in need. His father is now a pastor of his own ministry and carries on the mission of helping others that are treading the same path he once tread.

Turner is a big believer in redemption and forgiveness and believes that everyone deserves a second chance. However, he believes that redemption and forgiveness must be earned and that one is not merely entitled to it. It is through these life experiences that Turner has acquired the foundation of individual responsibility and accountability. None of us are perfect, but through hard work, we are all blessed with enormous potential and the ability to make a positive difference in our community.