The US Conference of Mayors passed the following resolution at its recent meeting in Miami:
CALLING FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WHICH PROMOTES THE
REUNIFICATION OF FAMILIES, PROVIDES LEGAL STATUS WITH A PATH TO
EARNED CITIZENSHIP, AND A PLAN FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE IMMIGRANT
WORKERS
WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors recognizes
the economic, social and cultural contributions immigrants bring to
their communities; and WHEREAS, the responsibility of municipal leaders is to protect the wellbeing and safety of all the people residing in their cities; and WHEREAS,
many local governments have passed resolutions, ordinances and policy
directives reaffirming non-participation in the enforcement of civil
immigration law by city officials and agencies to promote immigrant
trust in its police and avert racial profiling and civil rights
violations; and WHEREAS, The International Association of Chiefs of Police Guide to Immigration Issues
concludes that local police leaders face a growing set of immigration
related duties in the face of scarce and narrowing resources; and WHEREAS,
raids and deportations are increasing in scope and number in recent
weeks and months, separating families and spreading terror in our
communities; and WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors
opposes the separation of families by the enforcement of our current
immigration laws and supports the reunification of families that have
been so separated, especially those “mixed status” families with U.S.
citizen children of which there are an estimated four million children
currently in this country; and WHEREAS, the national political debate on immigration reform has tended to polarize our communities; and WHEREAS,
it is the duty of local governments to respect the rights of and
provide equal services to all individuals regardless of national origin
or immigration status, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
by The U.S. Conference of Mayors acting on behalf of its constituents
to call on the President of the United States to issue an executive
order to cease and desist in the execution of all raids and
deportations that do not relate to our national security or to criminal
activity until comprehensive immigration reform is completed and to
suspend immediately all deportations of parents with U.S. citizen
children; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S.
Conference of Mayors supports comprehensive immigration reform which
promotes the reunification of families, provides legal status with a
path to earned citizenship to the estimated 12 million undocumented
workers and designs a plan for current and future immigrant workers.
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