SENATE MEMORIAL 43

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Kay Papen

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

     WHEREAS, the United States is a nation of immigrants with a proud tradition of welcoming immigrants from countries all over the world; and

     WHEREAS, all parties and political perspectives acknowledge that the current immigration system is not working and is badly in need of reform; and

     WHEREAS, the escalating immigration problem cannot be treated with a band-aid; and

     WHEREAS, current federal immigration laws are outdated and greatly restrict opportunities for workers and their families to immigrate legally; and

     WHEREAS, the United States has seen the emergence of a black market for the importation of immigrant labor and a sizable population of approximately fifteen million people who are working and residing in the United States without legal status; and

     WHEREAS, these immigrants make vital contributions to the economic stability and cultural richness of this country; and

     WHEREAS, current immigration and border policies have proved ineffective in stemming the flow of immigrants and have failed to prevent human trafficking and smuggling, deaths and criminal activity in the border regions; and

     WHEREAS, the government can better implement security measures that would effectively protect the nation from criminals, terrorists and others that seek to do us harm only when the United States has established an orderly flow of immigration and has permitted unauthorized workers to emerge from their undocumented situations; and

     WHEREAS, in order to defend our borders effectively, the federal government should implement cost-effective measures using smart inspections and screening practices and efficient processing; and

     WHEREAS, the long-term solution to all these problems is to bring immigration laws into conformity with the demands of the economy by permitting productive workers to remain in the country and future workers to enter the country with temporary or permanent visas to fill available jobs that require their skills;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the congress of the United States be requested to pass comprehensive immigration reform containing the following elements:

          A. a legalization program that includes a path to citizenship for immigrant workers and their families who are presently in the United States without legal status;

          B. immigration policies that provide a safe, orderly and rational framework for future immigration, accommodating the needs of willing immigrant workers and willing United States employers; and

          C. immigration laws and policies that protect the rights of workers and preserve the unity of families; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation, the national conference of state legislatures and the national governors association.

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