File #: Res 0042-2004    Version: * Name: Congress to oppose the proposed federal temporary guest worker program and to support the passing of comprehensive immigration reform.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Immigration
On agenda: 2/4/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to oppose the proposed federal temporary guest worker program and to support the passing of comprehensive immigration reform that includes permanent legalization and fair worker protection for immigrants.
Sponsors: Miguel Martinez, Margarita Lopez, Kendall Stewart, Hiram Monserrate, Bill De Blasio, Maria Baez, Charles Barron, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Erik Martin Dilan, Helen D. Foster, Sara M. Gonzalez, Robert Jackson, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Bill Perkins, Christine C. Quinn, Philip Reed, Diana Reyna, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Gale A. Brewer, Alan J. Gerson, Annabel Palma
Council Member Sponsors: 25
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 4/14, 2. Committee Report 4/28, 3. Hearing Transcript 4/28, 4. Hearing Transcript 4/14, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5/5
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
5/5/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/28/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Consumer Affairs Approved by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/28/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Consumer Affairs Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/28/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Immigration Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
4/28/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Immigration Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/14/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Immigration Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/14/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on Immigration Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/4/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/4/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 42

 

Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to oppose the proposed federal temporary guest worker program and to support the passing of comprehensive immigration reform that includes permanent legalization and fair worker protection for immigrants.

 

 

By Council Members Martinez, Lopez, Stewart, Monserrate, DeBlasio, Baez, Barron, Clarke, Comrie, Dilan, Foster, Gonzalez, Jackson, James, Liu, Perkins, Quinn, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Sanders, Seabrook, Brewer, Gerson and Palma

 

 

                     Whereas, On January 7, 2004, President Bush proposed a new temporary worker program for undocumented immigrant workers, and;

Whereas, The association of the commonly used term “legalization” with the Administration’s proposal is misleading to the American people because the Administration’s proposal omits any specific process for permanent legalization, paths to citizenship or worker protection for immigrants; and

Whereas, Instead of working towards stabilizing the lives of immigrants and their families, the Administration’s proposal would provide uncertain and insecure terms of employment for immigrants by offering only temporary legal status; and

Whereas, The Administration’s proposal fails to address the needs of immigrants who face an extensive administrative backlog of pending requests for green cards, citizenship and reunification with their families; and

Whereas, The Administration’s proposal would legitimize employers that do not offer decent wages or benefits to employees and, thereby, perpetuate a system of exploitation that lowers the wage standards and working conditions of all workers-immigrant and native-born alike; and

Whereas, The Administration’s proposal would create a caste of second-class workers that lack the opportunity to become fully integrated in society; and

Whereas, The Administration’s proposal would leave temporary workers dependent on employers to maintain or extend their temporary legal status and, thus, make temporary workers vulnerable to workplace abuses; and

Whereas, President Bush’s announcement and proposed immigration reform irresponsibly overlooks immigration reform legislation currently pending in the United States Congress such as the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (“DREAM”) Act-which would allow states to provide in-state college tuition to undocumented students who grew up in the U.S., providing a path for students to become legal permanent residents-and the Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits and Security (“AgJOBS”) Act, which would enable undocumented agricultural immigrants to become legal residents; and

Whereas, President Bush has not denounced the dangerous Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (“CLEAR”) Act, which would give local police forces authority to enforce civil immigration laws and would jeopardize the safety of immigrant victims of crime and human rights violations; and

Whereas, In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, progress in achieving fair immigration reform has been halted and there has been a dangerous trend of biased attacks and discriminatory treatment of immigrants that has sent an unwelcoming message to immigrants here and abroad; and

Whereas, Now is a critical time to renew this country’s commitment to immigrant communities that have contributed and strengthened the nation’s economy and culture; therefore, be it now

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to oppose the proposed federal temporary guest worker program and to support the passing of comprehensive immigration reform that includes permanent legalization and fair worker protection for immigrants.

 

LS#206