Resolution of the Arlington County Democratic Committee
Supporting Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Adopted January 2, 2013
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 Arlington and the United States 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
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, many provisions of Arizona’s immigration law S.B. 1070, which fueled anti-immigrant sentiment nationwideand appeared to institutionalize racial profiling, were declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, and
WHEREAS, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has issued a legal opinion similar to Arizona law S.B. 1070 stating 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, on June 15, 2012, President Obama announced as federal law enforcement policy a stop-gap measure halting the deportation of law-abiding immigrants who entered the country illegally as children but who have completed high school and/or served in the military in the United States (so-called “Dreamers”), and
WHEREAS, other local jurisdictions in Virginia have adopted anti-immigrant 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, 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 2nd day of January 2013, 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 representativesto support comprehensive and non-discriminatory immigration reform in Congress.
3. We condemn Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’sopinion letter that law enforcement officers can check the immigration status of anyone they stop for any reason.
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.