April 23, 2007

The United States Conference of Mayors immigration policy is that reform is needed and it must be comprehensive. The mayors unanimously adopted policy to this effect at the 74th Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas in June of 2006.

Citing the enormous contributions of immigrants to the economic, cultural, and political life of the U.S. and its cities; the engines of the national economy, contributions recognized and honored throughout the history of the country and across the political spectrum; the nation’s mayors are adamant that reform must uphold our basic values as a nation and should include the following key elements:

• a viable and efficient guest worker program to satisfy the country’s labor and employment needs that provide a safe and orderly process for enabling willing immigrant workers to fill essential jobs in our economy. Undocumented workers fill key roles in the country’s city and state economies;

• strengthened border security; and

• a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants living and working in the country.

Furthermore, the Conference opposes any efforts in the Congress to criminalize the presence of undocumented workers. The mayors have a long'standing record of opposing efforts by the Congress to impose unfunded federal mandates on cities and other local governments requiring, without reimbursement or training, enforcement of immigration violations that are by nature a Federal responsibility. These past efforts included attempts to reduce a city’s Federal grants in order to coerce them into enforcing Federal immigration laws.

For more information on mayors policy on immigration and related issues visit www.usmayors.org