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HomeMy WebLinkAbout65A - RPT - IMMIGRATION REFORM RESOREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: MAY 20, 2013 TITLE: FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM RESOLUTION /(Zl , " CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ? As Recommended ? As Amended ? Ordinance on 1St Reading ? Ordinance on 2"d Reading ? Implementing Resolution ? Set Public Hearing For_ CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Adopt a Resolution in support of comprehensive immigration reform and urge the President of the United States and the 113th Congress to act on such reforms. DISCUSSION In light of recent developments at the federal level regarding immigration reform and the impact this action may have to our community, Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero and Councilmember Vince Sarmiento requested that a resolution supporting immigration be brought to the City Council for consideration. Similar to the City of Anaheim, staff modeled the resolution after the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations' (AFL-CIO) Resolution supporting a Road Map to Citizenship for Aspiring Americans, the principles agreed upon by the AFL-CIO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Orange County Business Council's recently adopted federal immigration policy. The proposed Resolution expresses many of the principles outlined by both business and labor groups as they work in collaboration to promote comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level. In addition to supporting a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants who live in the United States today, the proposed Resolution also supports improved federal programs that would allow businesses the ability to hire certain categories of foreign workers as a means of improving economic competitiveness. The Resolution also outlines the importance of continuing to secure our international borders while also recognizing the importance of family unity as a major component of any immigration policy. If adopted, the attached Resolution will be sent to the President of the United States, Congressional leaders in the House and Senate, as well as members of the 113th Congress representing the City of Santa Ana. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. 65A-1 65A-2 I SRC: 5/16/13 RESOLUTION NO. 2013- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND URGING THE 113TH CONGRESS TO ENACT REFORMS THAT SECURE OUR BORDERS, ENSURE ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND PROMOTE STRONGER COMMUNITIES WHEREAS, The City of Santa Ana recognizes the economic, social and cultural contributions immigrants bring to their communities and, in particular, to the City of Santa Ana; and WHEREAS, since the City's founding in 1869, immigrants have had a significant role in Santa Ana's cultural and economic vitality; and WHEREAS, the responsibility of municipal leaders is to protect the well- being and safety of all people residing in their cities; and WHEREAS, it is the duty of the city to respect the liberty and civil rights of all individuals, regardless of national origin or immigration status; and WHEREAS, our nation's immigration and border security policies are federal responsibilities that are in desperate need of a new, improved and modernized legal immigration system; and WHEREAS, a talented workforce made up of both skilled and unskilled labor is a key driver of our local economy; and WHEREAS, there is a need for reformed national immigration programs that provide the City's businesses the opportunity to employ foreign workers, when necessary, to improve economic competitiveness; and WHEREAS, family unity is a component of a strong economy, and re- unification of families has been a key part of federal immigration policy for almost fifty years; and WHEREAS, there is broad support and collaboration among both business and labor groups to promote comprehensive immigration reform that provides sensible and effective solutions. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of Santa Ana does hereby resolve as follows: Resolution No. 2013-XXX Page 1 of 3 65A-3 SRC: 5/16/13 Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana, California, urges the United States Congress to adopt and enact comprehensive immigration reform that includes the following principles: 1. Providing for controlled admission, fair and just to those already in the legal immigration process that includes a defined path for permanent residency and/or citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States today. 2. Establishing an improved visa program, such as the proposed W-Visa, to provide our businesses with the ability to hire certain categories of foreign workers when legal residents are unavailable or unwilling to fill jobs. 3. Creating a methodology that accurately assesses labor market needs in order to determine the number of foreign workers to be admitted for employment purposes annually. 4. Increasing efforts to advance workforce talent outreach internationally and strengthening programs in domestic science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) training, to improve ongoing economic competitiveness, while also promoting legal immigration opportunities. 5. Creating a streamlined process to resolve the backlog of existing visa applications and developing methods to ensure the efficient processing of future immigration applications in a timely manner, which will expedite re-unification of families. Section 2. The City Clerk is directed to send this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the Honorable Members of the 113th Congress representing the City of Santa Ana. ADOPTED this day of 12013. Miguel A. Pulido Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney Resolution No. 2013-XXX Page 2 of 3 65A-4 SRC: 5/16/13 SONIA R. CARVALHO CITY ATTORNEY AYES: Councilmembers: NOES: Councilmembers: ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers: CERTIFICATION OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, Maria D. Huizar, Clerk of Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on , 2013. Date: Clerk of Council City of Santa Resolution No. 2013-XXX Page 3 of 3 65A-5 65A-6