Resolution Supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WHEREAS, Arlington County is one of the most diverse communities in America, with recent immigrants from more than 120 countries and foreign-born individuals comprising over 23 percent of the local population, and
WHEREAS, the diversity of both this community and this nation is an important reason why we remain so strong and vibrant, and in an increasingly interconnected world, the diversity of our nation is a powerful advantage in global competition, and
WHEREAS, developing a rational legal immigration system is essential to ensuring America's future economic prosperity, and
WHEREAS, our broken national immigration system undermines our core national and local interests and must be reformed, and
WHEREAS, our laws should respect families who follow the rules – instead of splitting families apart, while creating a pathway for legal status that is fair, effective, and reflective of our values, and
WHEREAS, the recent passage of S.B. 1070 in Arizona fuels anti-immigrant sentiment nationwide, and appears to institutionalize racial profiling, and
WHEREAS, President Obama has deemed the Arizona law as “misguided,” and called upon Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform, and
WHEREAS, some Republican legislators in the Virginia General Assembly have advocated enacting legislation similar to the Arizona law right here in our Commonwealth of Virginia, and
WHEREAS, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has issued a legal opinion that law enforcement officers can check the immigration status of anyone they stop for any reason, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cuccinelli is attempting to implement this policy change in a legal opinion that circumvents the legislative process, and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cuccinelli has also filed an amicus brief supporting the State of Arizona and the Arizona law in the recent lawsuit filed by the United States to challenge that law, and
WHEREAS, as a first step in what will be a protracted and expensive litigation, the Federal District Court has enjoined implementation of the Arizona law, and
WHEREAS, other local jurisdictions have adopted policies motivated by xenophobia and political pandering — policies that create distrust and divisiveness and divert scarce public resources, thus hindering government's delivery of essential services and the performance of its core functions, and
WHEREAS, a bi-partisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform has been put forth in the United States Senate, and President Obama has consequently stated, “A critical next step will be to translate [this] framework into a legislative proposal, and for Congress to act at the earliest possible opportunity,” and
WHEREAS, Arlington thrives and prospers with responsible policies that provide protection for its people and help to those in need, while promoting respect for and enforcement of the rule of law and the successful integration of immigrants into our community,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Arlington County Democratic Committee, on this 4th day of August, 2010, that:
1. We reject political appeals to prejudice and demagoguery against immigrants, and further reject government policies directed toward immigrants that limit rather than increase our government’s ability to provide for the health, safety, education and welfare of all people.
2. We call upon our federal representatives, Senator Webb, Senator Warner, and Congressman Moran, to make it a priority to protect Virginia from the consequences of our nation's current broken immigration policy and support truly comprehensive and non-discriminatory immigration reform in Congress.
3. We condemn on constitutional, moral, fiscal, and practical grounds the decision of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to bypass the legislative process with his opinion letter that law enforcement officers can check the immigration status of anyone they stop for any reason, and his decision to file an amicus brief supporting the State of Arizona and Arizona law SB 1070 in the recent lawsuit filed by the United States.
4. We call upon Governor McDonnell and the Members of the Virginia General Assembly to reject legislation that is similar to Arizona law SB 1070.