Thread: S.F. Demands More Money for Immigrants

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/nucleus ... temid=3375
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Supervisors, Immigrants Urge Proactive Stance on Immigration Reform
by Casey Mills, 2006-06-14

A coalition of immigrants rights groups and members of the Board of Supervisors joined forces yesterday to demand San Francisco take proactive action responding to immigration reform legislation likely on its way from Washington, D.C. The coalition called for $2 million in additional city funding to increase immigration legal services, English as a Second Language classes, and outreach and education to the populations that could be affected by the federal legislation, especially low-income and working class immigrants. Proponents hope these programs will help alleviate the confusion and hardship that federal immigration reform will undoubtedly cause for the city’s undocumented residents.

The U.S. Senate is currently debating legislation that would dramatically reform immigration law, with proposals on the table ranging from the criminalization of all undocumented people to implementing a guest worker program for immigrants.

Yesterday’s call for more funding came on the same day that the Board took up a resolution affirming the city’s opposition to any federal legislation that would criminalize undocumented immigrants.

In addition, the resolution called for the city to commit local resources to support immigrant residents in San Francisco - resources immigrant rights groups say will be vital to ensuring the city’s residents are able to navigate the federal reforms that are in the pipeline.

“The [coming reforms] will be a disaster,” said Gen Fujioka of the Asian Law Caucus. “And this funding is disaster preparedness.”

Members of the coalition pushing for more funding underscored San Francisco’s historic role as a refuge for immigrants, and argued that their proposals would help continue that role.

“It would be ludicrous to turn out backs on the foreign-born residents of San Francisco,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. “It only makes sense that a forward thinking like San Francisco stand tall.”

Again they want us to foot the bill for their incompetence. Stand up America and tell them NO MORE.

They want them, they can pay for them. I will start sending little "missives" to my reps - No money for illegal magnate cities.