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Supporting the implementation of President Obama’s executive action on immigration.
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Whereas, the United States is a nation of immigrants and home to 11.5 million undocumented residents who contribute to our economy and enrich our social fabric; and
Whereas, the City of Saint Paul values the role undocumented immigrants play in revitalizing our community through their entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, buying of homes, educating their children in our schools, and paying taxes; and
Whereas, on November 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced executive actions that provide immediate protection from deportation and work authorization to long-term, law-abiding residents who are the parents of U.S. citizens; and
Whereas, this policy change will impact nearly five million immigrant people throughout the country, an estimated 30,000 residents in Minnesota, and a significant portion of St. Paul’s 30,000 Latino residents and 56,000 foreign born residents (from 2010 Census data); and
Whereas, while these actions represent an important step forward, we acknowledge they provide no permanent relief for millions of hard-working people living in our country and exclude tens of thousands of residents in Minnesota; and
Whereas, we vow to continue to advocate for fair and humane federal immigration reform that provides the enduring dignity and respect that all people deserve.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the Saint Paul City Council, that the City of Saint Paul fully supports the President’s historic executive actions on immigration and commits to helping Saint Paul families and residents by supporting the leadership of the Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity Department to work within the city and with new and existing community partners to achieve a successful and swift implementation of this policy change.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, support for the President’s executive action be included in the City’s Federal Policy Agenda along with support for comprehensive immigration reform; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Clerk is directed to send this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the Honorable Member of the 114th Congress representing the City of Saint Paul.