Council to discuss making Tucson an 'Immigrant Welcoming City'

Council to discuss making Tucson an 'Immigrant Welcoming City'

Posted: Aug 7, 2012 12:38 PM

TUCSON - Today the Tucson City Council will discuss a resolution to proclaim Tucson an "Immigrant Welcoming City," in reaction to the apparent loss of tourism over the controversial illegal immigration state law, SB1070, passed in 2010.

The text of the resolution, introduced by Council member Regina Romero, states: "The Arizona Legislature's enactment of SB1070 has led to major losses in tourism, conventions, and business interests as well as adversely affecting historic relationships with the State of Sonora and the people of Mexico."

The "Immigrant Welcoming City" resolution, modeled after a similar resolution passed last year in Dayton, Ohio, seeks to clarify that legal immigrants are welcome in Tucson, and will be protected while here.

Among the provisions introduced by the resolution to make Tucson an "Immigrant Welcoming City":

-The Mayor and Council will host public community conversations on racial profiling beginning in the Fall of 2012.

-The Mayor and Council will support the Tucson Police Department, "including the responsibility of protecting the public safety of all people living and traveling within the City of Tucson regardless of their immigration status."

-The City of Tucson's enforcement policies and priorities related to SB1070 will take into account the priorities of the Department of Homeland Security.

-The Mayor and Council support the rights of all persons in the city to attend and participate in the religious service of their choice, and they "support the Tucson Police Chief in his commitment to protect the public safety and the constitutional rights of all persons living and traveling in the city of Tucson."

-The Mayor and Council also commit to facilitating a community-wide dialogue on business and economic development, immigrant communities, law enforcement, the justice system, and more.

Tune in to News 4 Tucson this evening for a full report on this resolution, and how it fared in today's council meeting.
Council to discuss making Tucson an 'Immigrant Welcoming City' | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona