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Resolution
condemning the
“Border Protection,
Anti-Terrorism, and
Illegal Immigration
Control Act”-HR
4437- and affirming
commitment to
providing a safe,
healthy and
dignified place to
live for all
residents,
regardless of
immigration status
WHEREAS, On December
16th, 2005, the US
House of
Representatives
passed the “Border
Protection, Anti-Terrorism,
and Illegal
Immigration Control
Act” –HR 4437- one
of the most
deplorable, anti-immigrant
bills in this
country’s history;
and
WHEREAS, HR 4437
proposes, among
other things, to
automatically turn
undocumented
immigrants living in
the US into
aggravated felons;
to criminalize US
citizens and legal
residents who have
routine contact with
undocumented
immigrants; to
require day laborer
centers and other
non-profit
organizations to
verify workers’
immigration status;
to diminish judicial
review of
immigration courts’
decisions; to make
detention of
immigrants
mandatory; to give
the government
unfettered
discretion to
designate gangs and
make immigrants
deportable as
members of gangs
even if they have
never violated the
law; and
WHEREAS, HR 4437
would devastatingly
impact immigrant
communities and by
creating fear,
discrimination and
abuse of immigrant
communities; and
WHEREAS, States
welcome and value
all of its
inhabitants,
undocumented, U.S.
legal residents and
U.S. citizens alike,
and wishes them to
live free from fear
of local, state and
federal law
enforcement, and to
work free from
discrimination and
exploitation; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that
the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
condemns the passage
of HR 4437 in the
U.S. House of
Representatives, and
condemns the
building of border
walls, however
supports humane ways
to secure the
border; and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the
NHCSL urges the U.S.
Senate (including
Senators Boxer and
Feinstein) and
President Bush to
reject HR 4437, and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that NHCSL
urges President
Bush, the U.S.
Senate, and the U.S.
House of
Representatives to
support
comprehensive
immigration reform
that includes
keeping families
together by
decreasing the
immigration backlogs
and decreasing the
barriers for family
reunification, and
restoring and
protecting our
communities’
fundamental civil
rights/ civil
liberties, and
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the
NHCSL urges other
local and state
governments to
condemn the passage
of HR 4437 and
recognize the
important role
immigrants play in
strengthening our
communities and
country.
This resolution was
adopted this
November 18, 2006,
at the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
Executive Committee
& BBA Annual Meeting
held in San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
Assemblyman Felix W.
Ortiz, NY
NHCSL President |
