SENATE MEMORIAL 20

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2021

INTRODUCED BY

David M. Gallegos

A MEMORIAL

URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FIX THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.

     WHEREAS, Americans' concern with immigration continues to be heightened, as twenty-three percent name it as the most important problem facing the country, according to a 2019 Gallup poll; and

     WHEREAS, according to the United States census bureau, there were roughly forty-five million immigrants in the United States in 2017, which is approximately fourteen percent of the population; and

     WHEREAS, two-thirds of undocumented immigrants have been living in the United States for ten or more years, and many undocumented immigrants live with their children who are United States citizens; and

     WHEREAS, the influx of people at the United States southern border has increased, as many people are fleeing violence and crime in their home countries; and

     WHEREAS, even as immigration is acknowledged as one of the nation's most pressing problems, Americans still view immigration positively in general, according to the Gallup poll; and

     WHEREAS, the issue continues to challenge United States lawmakers, as congress and presidents have been unable to enact meaningful legislation and develop a plan for undocumented immigrants living in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, this indecision has created, and continues to create, financial and political problems that the United States must deal with;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the president of the United States, the New Mexico congressional delegation and all other members of the United States congress be urged to fix the immigration problem; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government be urged to clearly address the immigration issue and find a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain United States citizenship; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that undocumented immigrants who have records of violent crimes, drug trafficking or human trafficking be determined ineligible to apply for citizenship; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government be urged to address the current backlog of applications for citizenship by undocumented immigrants and create ways to expedite the application process; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government be urged to devise ways to secure United States borders to allow the free flow of legal access while controlling illegal access to United States borders and ports; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States, members of the New Mexico congressional delegation and all other members of the United States congress.

- 3 -