Res. No. 1008

Resolution supporting proposed bipartisan federal legislation for comprehensive immigration reform and urging Congress and President Bush to adopt such legislation. 

By Council Members Stewart, James, Weprin, Liu, Martinez, Palma and Jackson

                     Whereas, The United States urgently needs legislation to remedy shortcomings of the current immigration system, to recognize the crucial contributions immigrants make to our nation, to enable employers to hire immigrant workers legally, to protect immigrant workers from mistreatment by employers, and to facilitate reunification of families who have spent years apart; and

Whereas, Recent estimates that New York City is home to approximately 3.2 million immigrants and that at least 55% of New Yorkers are immigrants or children of immigrants underscore the importance to this city of rationalizing the nation’s immigration laws;   

Whereas, On May 12, 2005, a bipartisan group of legislators in both houses of Congress introduced the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, S. 1033 and H.R. 2330, a promising proposal that aims to achieve comprehensive reform of this country’s immigration laws; and

Whereas, S. 1033 and H.R. 2330 strive to establish immigration policy that enhances the security of the United States and reflects core values of this nation, including fairness and equality of opportunity; and

Whereas, The legislation would establish a temporary work visa program that would enable hundreds of thousands of immigrants with job opportunities to come to this country every year and would provide opportunities for these workers to earn permanent legalization and eventually United States citizenship; and  

Whereas, The bills also would enable undocumented immigrants who have been living and working in the United States to pay fines and obtain temporary work visas and ultimately work towards permanent legal status and citizenship; and

Whereas, A critical goal of immigration reform should be to ensure that persons who are eligible to adjust status are able to do so without undue delay caused by backlogs at the United States Customs and Immigration Service; and

Whereas, Immigrant workers who participate in the visa program that would be established by the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act would have the same rights as United States workers under applicable federal, state and local labor and employment laws; and

Whereas, In addition to offering pathways to legalization and citizenship for immigrants, comprehensive immigration reform legislation must ensure that all immigrant workers enjoy adequate workplace protections; and

Whereas, The legislation also would promote the interests of businesses that depend upon immigrant workers, by enabling them to employ immigrants without violating the law; and

Whereas, The proposed legislation would provide long overdue relief to immigrant families who have languished for years awaiting reunification; and

Whereas, The bills also would enable immigrants to pursue higher education in this country, which is critical to expanding opportunities for immigrants and the contributions they can make to society; and

Whereas, The bills further aim to improve United States security by enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local governments and between the United States and the governments of neighboring countries; and

Whereas, Strong bipartisan support for the proposed legislation in both houses of Congress is testament to the balanced approach it takes to reforming the nation’s immigration laws; and

Whereas, While the Bush Administration announced its intention to introduce sweeping immigration reform legislation in 2004, the program outlined by the Administration fell short of what this country needs in many critical ways and the Administration has yet to introduce any legislative proposals in connection with its stated intention; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports proposed bipartisan federal legislation for comprehensive immigration reform and urges Congress and President Bush to adopt such legislation.