CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE

WHEREAS, legal immigration continues to have positive impacts on the quality of life and vibrancy of American cities; and

WHEREAS, illegal immigration continues to be a significant problem in American cities; and

WHEREAS, additional funding has been provided to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in the Department of Justice in recent years to properly staff regional and state INS offices, to enhance border security, and to reimburse state and local governments for the cost of incarceration; and

WHEREAS, some Members of Congress have proposed legislation that would effectively abolish the INS, splitting its legal immigration and illegal immigration responsibilities to other federal agencies,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors expresses its appreciation to Congress and the Administration for recent increases in the INS budget and work to improve INS operations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors opposes any reorganization effort that would shut down the INS, reduce INS's effectiveness, or shift responsibility for illegal immigration to local government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges that Congress and the Administration fully involve mayors in the discussion to continually improve and reform INS operations and services.