2013-11

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

REPRESENTATIVE MINNIE GONZALEZ (CT), REPRESENTATIVE CATHERINE MIRANDA (AZ), INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, TRADE & IMMIGRATION TASK FORCE

WHEREAS, We are a nation of immigrants, and we strongly believe in an immigration system that maintains a healthy and vibrant economy, while promoting human respect, dignity and the opportunity to share in the American Dream and invest in our common future.

WHEREAS, we are grateful and applaud members of Congress who have worked diligently to support responsible bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing immigration reform and promoting a comprehensive approach to fix a broken system that no longer works for our economy and security.

WHEREAS, the United States of America is a country of immigrants, and one of its greatest competitive advantages is that the best, brightest and hardest workers from all over the world aspire to work here. Immigrants in our country are bound together by national values of economic opportunity as reward for hard work, known far and wide as the American Dream.

WHEREAS, immigrants who seek the American Dream will remain an essential part of whom we are as a country. It is morally and fiscally irresponsible to not design an immigration system that takes advantage of this fact.

WHEREAS, Legalizing the undocumented population lets us know who is living within our nation’s borders and allows our public safety representatives and first responders to focus time and resources on criminal elements intent on threatening our nation, citizens, freedoms, and way of life.

WHEREAS, the United States of America has been made fruitful by its welcoming of immigrants yet, we ask that CIR remains committed to addressing and enhancing our national security and that it remain imperative to secure from any criminal threats our air, land and sea ports as well as the northern and southern borders between the ports of entry. Increasing security at our ports also will result in more resources better able to process the billions in trade that crosses the U.S. border each day, strengthening our economy.

WHEREAS, Immigrants contribute to our nations entrepreneurial tradition. According to an October 2012 Kauffman Foundation study, U.S. businesses founded by immigrants employed approximately 560,000 workers and generated $63 billion in sales during 2012.

WHEREAS, Currently immigrants and their businesses contribute $162 billion in tax revenue to the United States federal, state and local governments. Encouraging more immigrants out of the shadows into citizenship, and applying our laws will expand the nation’s tax base and keep more families together and safe. Immigration reform will also reduce our federal deficit by more than $2.5 trillion over the next ten years and increase GDP per capita by over $1,500 according to former Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin.

WHEREAS, meaningful CIR will help bring approximately 11 million immigrants living in the country today out of the shadows, while providing our economy with a diverse array of educated professionals, skilled workers and dedicated entrepreneurs which have made America stronger economically and globally competitive.

WHEREAS, we implore our elected representatives to collaborate until they pass a meaningful solution before the end of the year that includes a path to citizenship and a truthful framework that recognizes the reality of many industries throughout our nation in desperate need of workers of all different levels of skill.

WHEREAS, the availability of information, resources, services and educational tools is essential to make possible the desire of undocumented immigrants and their families to become law-abiding, productive members of our respective communities earning their way to citizenship.

WHEREAS, one of the policy priorities of NHCSL is to focus on immigration reform and assist its members and their constituencies be better informed about the emerging immigration reform process, issues and to ensure that all immigrants are informed, educated and treated fairly and with dignity.

WHEREAS, with smart reforms, CIR can help to address many economic sectors’ need for labor, and we can reinforce and protect our long-term future and create a productive work force, while also cultivating a fair system that allows immigrant workers to become productive, tax-paying members of our society.

BE IT RESOLVED, that CIR must create a system that promotes a win-win scenario that is fair, equitable and reasonable for business and employees alike. The system must be reliable and avoid unnecessary punitive measures for business and employees who are demonstrating a real desire to comply and respect rules and eligibility. Employers should be required to use the E-verify system, and for those who use in good faith should be free from penalty. Employers who do not hire workers who are authorized for employment should face increased sanctions.

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED, We ask Congress to pass CIR in an effort to build a 21st century economy by addressing market needs that will help to sustain various service industries and labor forces, as well as help to provide sufficient high skilled worked to support our tech industries.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators will work in conjunction with Congress to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform legislation; and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators will continue to be an informational resource to its members and immigrants of this country concerning legislation applicable to Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the citizenship process.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, Comprehensive Immigration Reform is long overdue and we ask that the federal government and our leadership commit to the passage of meaningful reform before the end of 2013.

THIS RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED ON JULY 13, 2013, AT THE NHCSL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN MASHANTUCKET, CONNECTICUT AND RATIFIED ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 AT THE NHCSL ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.

SPONSORED BY: Representative Minnie Gonzalez (CT) & Representative Catherine Miranda (AZ) CO-SPONSORED BY: Senator Juan M. Pichardo (RI), Senator Richard C. Martinez (NM), Senator Iris Y. Martinez (IL), Senator Carmelo J. Rios Santiago (PR), Senator Eduardo Bhatia Gautier (PR), Senator Anna Tovar (AZ), Senator Jose R. Nadal Power (PR), Senator Jorge I. Suarez Caceres (PR), Speaker Jaime R. Perelló Borrás (PR), Representative Joseph E. Miró (DE), Representative Marilinda Garcia (NH), Representative Ezequiel Santiago (CT).