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RES-2014-011RESOLUTION NO. 2014 - _11 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, RESTATING AND REAFFIRMING THE PRINCIPLES SET FORTH IN RESOLUTION NO. 2013 -053 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND URGING THE 113TH CONGRESS TO ENACT REFORMS THAT SECURE OUR BORDERS, ENSURE ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND PROMOTE STRONGER COMMUNITIES WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim, on April 16, 2013, unanimously approved Resolution No. 2013- 053 in support of comprehensive federal immigration reform, attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein; and WHEREAS, in approving Resolution No. 2013 -053 the City specifically recognized the economic, social and cultural contributions immigrants bring to their communities and, in particular, to the City of Anaheim, that family unity is a component of a strong economy, and re- unification of families has been a key part of federal immigration policy for almost fifty years; and WHEREAS, while Congress proceeds with consideration of comprehensive federal immigration reform relating to the over 11 million undocumented residents in the U.S., wide - ranging support continues among business, labor, faith- based, and community groups for comprehensive federal immigration reform that provides sensible and effective solutions, as urged in our previously approved Resolution No. 2013 -053 and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM DOES HEREBY RESOLVE THAT, the City Council of the City of Anaheim, California, restates and reaffirms the principles set forth in the attached Resolution No. 2013 -053 and such language is hereby incorporated by reference, expressing support for comprehensive federal immigration reform and urging the 113th Congress to enact reforms that secure our borders, ensure economic strength and promote stronger communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Clerk is directed to send this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the Honorable Members of the 113th Congress representing the City of Anaheim; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution and enter it into the book of original Resolutions. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this 2 8th day of January , 2014, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Tait, Council Members Eastman, Murray, Brandman and Kring NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None CITY OMM r By MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM ATTEST: CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM Attachment Resolution No. 2013 -053 RESOLUTION NO. 2013- 053 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND URGING THE 113TH CONGRESS TO ENACT REFORMS THAT SECURE OUR BORDERS, ENSURE ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND PROMOTE STRONGER COMMUNITIES WHEREAS, The City of Anaheim recognizes the economic, social and cultural contributions immigrants bring to their communities and, in particular, to the City of Anaheim; and WHEREAS, since the City's founding over 150 years ago, immigrants have had a significant role in Anaheim's cultural and economic vitality; and WHEREAS, the responsibility of municipal leaders is to protect the well -being and safety of all people residing in their cities; and WHEREAS, it is the duty of the city to respect the liberty and civil rights of all individuals, regardless of national origin or immigration status; and WHEREAS, our nation's immigration and border security policies are federal responsibilities that are in desperate need of a new, improved and modernized legal immigration system; and WHEREAS, a talented workforce made up of both skilled and unskilled labor is a key driver of our local economy; and WHEREAS, there is a need for reformed national immigration programs that provide the City's businesses the opportunity to employ foreign workers, when necessary, to improve economic competitiveness; and WHEREAS, family unity is a component of a strong economy, and re- unification of families has been a key part of federal immigration policy for almost fifty years; and WHEREAS, there is broad support and collaboration among both business and labor groups to promote comprehensive immigration reform that provides sensible and effective solutions. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of the City of Anaheim, California, urges the United States Congress to adopt and enact comprehensive immigration reform that includes the following principles: 1. Providing for controlled admission, fair and just to those already in the legal immigration process that includes a defined path for permanent residency and /or citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States today. 2. Continued focus on securing our international borders, in conjunction with immigration reform initiatives that allow for effective border controls. 3. Establishing an improved visa program, such as the proposed W -Visa, to provide our businesses with the ability to hire certain categories of foreign workers when legal residents are unavailable or unwilling to fill jobs. 4. Creating a methodology that accurately assesses labor market needs in order to determine the number of foreign workers to be admitted for employment purposes annually. 5. Increasing efforts to advance workforce talent outreach internationally and strengthening programs in domestic science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) training, to improve ongoing economic competitiveness, while also promoting legal immigration opportunities. 6. Creating a streamlined process to resolve the backlog of existing visa applications and developing methods to ensure the efficient processing of future immigration applications in a timely manner, which will expedite re- unification of families. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Clerk is directed to send this resolution to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and the Honorable Members of the 113th Congress representing the City of Anaheim. THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Anaheim this 16th day of Apr; 1 , 2013, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Mayor Tait, Council Members Eastman, Brandman, Murray and Kring NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None CITY OF ANAHEIM MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM ATTEST: CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM