April 21, 2008

In a March 27 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa requested a thorough review and revision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies in Los Angeles. The mayor expressed concern that these policies have focused on nonexplosive employers in and around his city and discussed the harmful impact they could have on the local economy.

Villaraigosa called instead for the adoption of “national ICE workforce enforcement priorities that focus on employers with a demonstrated history of reasonable suspicion of engagement in exploitative practices.” In addition, he urged passage of comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the long-term presence and contribution of many undocumented immigrants through some form of regularized presence and earned citizenship.

On April 15, Conference Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran distributed the letter to all Conference members. He wrote, “Mayor Villaraigosa has asked me to share his letter with you because of the implication these policies could have for cities across the nation,” and assured them that the Conference of Mayors supports Villaraigosa in this effort.