By Ed Somers
February 11, 2008

Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, co-chair of the USCM Homeland Security Task Force, led a press conference on January 25 calling on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform now, not after the next election.

The Conference’s 10-Point Plan states that, “The nation’s mayors urge enactment of comprehensive immigration reform that would improve border security, bolster economic prosperity, and provide the approximately 12 million people already in the U.S. without legal authorization an opportunity to earn their permanent residence and citizenship, provided: they have not committed serious crimes; have learned, or are in the process of learning English; and pay taxes and social security on their earnings.”

During the press event, Gordon said, “I’ve already talked to many Senators and Representatives of both parties. And they’re already telling me that this Congress won’t be addressing the problem. They say we have to wait until the next Congress — and the next President...and that’s not acceptable. We can’t wait another year — and we shouldn’t wait another day.”

Homeland Security Task Force Co-Chair Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David Wallace added, “It is unconscionable that Congress is…burying its head in the sand on an issue that affects the economics of each individual city. We are calling on Congress to address a comprehensive border security and immigration package that provides for all individuals to pay their fair share of taxes, apply for worker visas and citizenship.”

USCM Vice President Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz said, “It’s inhuman in most respects that we have this many people living in this country that are not being given the opportunity to earn their citizenship as all of us would like and become productive members of all of our cities.”

Chandler (AZ) Mayor Boyd Dunn reflected on his city’s struggle to try and enforce federal immigration laws ten years ago, which he said caused great local conflict and resulted in lasting mistrust. “We don’t have the training in cities; we don’t have the funds; we don’t have the manpower to take on the responsibilities of the federal government.”

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez added, “I have never seen a failure as great as the failure of this Congress on the issue of immigration.”

“The American people just can’t understand that their elected officials won’t do what they are elected to do,” commented Richmond (VA) Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, Chair of the USCM Capital Cities Task Force.