Mayors Commend Bi-Partisan Senate Immigration Proposal

Business Wire
March 25, 2010 Thursday
WASHINGTON, D.C.

With momentum growing for immigration reform, the nation's mayors welcome the bipartisan proposal offered by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC).

The Senators announced their proposal in an op ed in the March 19 edition ofThe Washington Post.

It would require: biometric Social Security cards to prevent illegal workers from getting jobs, strengthened border security and interior enforcement, a process for admitting temporary workers, and a "tough but fair path" to legalization for those already in the country.

"Mayors commend the Senators for their bipartisan efforts and hope that their proposal is quickly developed into legislation that will ultimately lead to comprehensive immigration reform," said Phoenix (AZ) Mayor Phil Gordon, Chair of The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Task Force on Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

"Mayors across the country deal with the consequences of illegal immigration every day.

It is critical that any legislation provide resources for cities and states which are disproportionately bearing the financial burden of our broken immigration system.

Additionally, it is essential that we seek to resolve this issue in a way in which the rights of both citizens and non-citizens are protected."

In January of 2009 the Conference adopted policy calling for quick passage of comprehensive immigration reform legislation based on:

1) increased border security and enforcement;

2) the protection of human and civil rights of both citizens and non-citizens being detained;

3) more support for city and state governments which are disproportionately shouldering the costs of the current broken immigration system;

4) the use of new technologies to match up foreign workers with jobs in this country that are going unfilled (guest worker program); and

5) the elimination of current obstacles to citizenship that have resulted in 10-12 million undocumented residents living in the shadows.


CONTACT: U.S. Conference of Mayors
Elena Temple, 202-861-6719
etemple@usmayors.org

or

Carlos Vogel, 202-861-6708
cvogel@usmayors.org http://www.businesswire.com

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