HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Resolution"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
SUPPORTING A REASONABLE AND HUMANE APPROACH TO REFORMING THE
CURRENTLY BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM"
WHEREAS, immigration reform is an urgent federal responsibility, and must occur in a
comprehensive, thoughtful manner guided by our nation's values of due process, civil and
human rights; and
WHEREAS, civil and human rights are deeply rooted in the fabric of democratic and principled
societies, and must be instilled in all elements of our enforcement apparatus to ensure every
individual's dignity and humanity is upheld, recognized and respected; and
WHEREAS, the consequences of unbalanced immigration enforcement has caused fear in
immigrantand refugee communities within the City of National City, and an untold number of
families residing in the City have faced separation resulting from immigration raids, and some
children have lost a parent due to unchecked border agent brutality; and
WHEREAS, that it is not practical to deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants living
within our borders, and that this country should provide a reasonable pathway to citizenship that
is not conditioned upon shortsighted border enforcement strategies that add extra obstacles and
burdens to full reform;
WHEREAS, the City of National City recognizes that immigration reform must protect the rights
of all families to stay together, regardless of immigration status, family structure, sexual
orientation, gender identity, and to include same -sex couples, and provide sufficient family -
based channels for migration in the future; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City recognizes that immigration reform must protect basic
labor rights for current and future immigrant and refugees; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City maintains that immigration reform must seek to restore
trust between immigrant and refugee communities and local police by reducing racial profiling
and increasing transparency and accountability for the involvement of authorities in Local law
enforcement; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City is a diverse city where over 43% of its residents are
foreign born and over 73% speak a language other than English in their home, and who work,
own homes, operate businesses and contribute to the economic, social, and cultural well-being of
the City; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City shares significant economic, social and cultural ties with
Mexico; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the cultural and social riches our nation receives through our border,
our ports of entry drive regional and national economic development approaching $500 billion in
trade and one in 24 jobs in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City of National City supports added investment in infrastructure of ports -of -
entry in order to keep up with the pace of the expansion of bilateral trade and the population
growth of the border region; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of National City
supports a reasonable and humane approach to reforming the currently broken immigration
system that is in the best interest of this country.