Number
010900
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. SANCHEZ, GORDON AND RICHARDS
Title
Resolution urging the United States Congress to take various actions intended to restore fairness to the current immigration system.
Analysis
This resolution urges the United States Congress to enact legislation such as Senate Bill 955 and House Resolution 500, both of which are intended to restore fairness to the current immigration system, particularly as it relates to legal, undocumented immigrants.
Body
Whereas, Wisconsin and the entire United States were founded upon the dreams, traditions, energy and labor of immigrants; and
Whereas, In this new century, immigrants continue to be a key driving force in the U.S. economy and in the economy of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Our society has many sectors whose stability is dependent upon the labor of immigrants and in particular on those who have no legal status; and
Whereas, These undocumented immigrants are unfortunately subject to many injustices in the workplace and their lack of legal status makes them fearful of retaliation, so that many of them endure long hours and low pay, unsanitary and squalid working conditions, sexual harassment and discrimination; and
Whereas, In previously recognizing the plight of the undocumented immigrants, the United States Congress, in 1986, passed, as part of its Immigration Reform and Control Act, an amnesty program affecting those immigrants present in this country prior to January 1, 1982; and
Whereas, Almost 2 decades have past since that time and some employers have used some of its provisions to exploit undocumented workers who more recently have come to our shores; and
Whereas, On May 24, 2001, 9 members of the United States Senate introduced and announced their co-sponsorship of Senate Bill 955, titled the Immigrant Fairness Restoration Act of 2001, intended to begin the process of remedying these injustices; and
Whereas, Among the just grievances redressed by this law are the retroactive application of certain offenses made punishable by deportation, the removal of discretion from justices presiding over certain deportation cases, the elimination of proportionality as a measure in adjudicating deportation and immigration cases and certain unfair grounds of inadmissibility; and
Whereas, Various organizations including the AFL-CIO, the U.S. Catholic Conference, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Wisconsin Coalition for a Just General Amnesty and Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) have all issued calls for some form of general amnesty for undocumented immigrants; and
Whereas, On February 7, 2001, a bill, entitled the U.S. Employee, Family Unity, and Legalization Act (House Resolution 500), was introduced into the United States House of Representatives; and
Whereas, This act, in addition to embracing many of the reforms included in Senate Bill 955, would provide for a just amnesty for millions of hard-working undocumented immigrants; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the council urges the United States Congress to enact legislation reflecting the contents of both Senate Bill 955 and House Resolution 500; and, be it
Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the members of the City of Milwaukee's delegation to the United States Congress.
Requestor
Drafter
01332-1
LRB:jro
07/30/01