In Support of Work Opportunities and Additional Federal Resources for Asylum Seekers
Adopted at the 91st Annual Meeting in 2023
WHEREAS, mayors from across the country have launched innovative and humane programs to support the newly arrived immigrants, including providing shelter, food, legal services, education, healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the lack of congressional action has prevented our nation from modernizing our federal immigration system and left cities ill-equipped to integrate our new neighbors fully and compassionately and some states have taken misguided actions in their efforts to implement existing federal laws; and
WHEREAS, ability to work is essential for asylum seekers and our immigrant communities to obtain financial stability and independence; and
WHEREAS, employers in cities across the country are facing a tight labor market with a dire shortage of workers in various industries and, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the number of job openings available across the country has outpaced the number of people looking for work; and
WHEREAS, under federal law and regulation, non-citizens cannot legally work in the U.S. unless they have work authorization from the federal government and for most non-citizens this means seeking an Employment Authorization Document ("EAD") and these requirements preempt and prevent localities from directly issuing work authorization to non-citizens; and
WHEREAS, current government processing of EADs has been plagued by excessive delays and confusing bureaucracy; and
WHEREAS, cities must be able to respond pro-actively both to the labor shortage and the influx of new arrivals who are ready, willing, and able to contribute to their new home; and
WHEREAS, the Trump-era Title 42 policy was lifted on May 11, 2023, and was expected to result in a further increase in the number of asylum seekers entering the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, immigration is a federal issue and requires a comprehensive federal response that does not rely on harmful temporary solutions like Title 42 but instead focuses on addressing root causes of migration and meeting the needs of those seeking safety and of their receiving communities; and
WHEREAS, many state and local governments are facing enormous strains on their resources due to the huge influx of asylum seekers with no pathway forward due to the enormous backlog in immigration courts; and
WHEREAS, FEMA has been awarded a small amount of funding to assist jurisdictions, however this funding is not sufficient to support the existing populations let alone a sizeable increase over the next several months; and
WHEREAS, granting asylum seekers access to work authorization will allow them to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible and mitigate the need for external funding; and
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors proposes three tools the executive branch could use to assist non-citizens in obtaining work authorization: (1) faster processing times for EADs, (2) expanding and extending parole status so humanitarian parolees do not lose their ability to work or apply for work, and (3) expanding the applicability of Temporary Protected Status (TPS); and
WHEREAS, cities also understand that a bold partnership with the federal government is needed to address the current humanitarian crisis and uphold our values as a nation of immigrants, which is why cities urge the federal government to authorize the power of municipalities to establish eligibility requirements for work permits in their jurisdiction,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports a request to the federal government to authorize municipalities to establish eligibility requirements for work permits in their jurisdiction; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors supports three basic tools the executive branch could use to assist non-citizens in obtaining work authorization: (1) faster processing times for EADs, (2) expanding and extending parole status so humanitarian parolees do not lose their ability to work or apply for work, and (3) expanding the applicability of TPS; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Congress include significant resources to assist state and local governments with providing services to asylum seekers.