SR0328 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The United States was founded as a nation of immigrants, a place where people could find economic opportunity and a better life, or escape persecution in their home country, and fulfill their hopes of a brighter future based on freedom and democratic ideals; and

WHEREAS, The cultural diversity of immigrants to the United States adds to the social fabric of this nation, and the new ideas and energies immigrants contribute to the economy strengthen the nation as a whole; and

WHEREAS, There are currently over 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States, the vast majority of whom abide by the laws, work hard, and pay taxes; and

WHEREAS, Comprehensive immigration reform must provide law-abiding, tax paying immigrant workers and their families with an opportunity to obtain legal permanent residency and eventually United States citizenship through fair and reasonable requirements; and

WHEREAS, Undocumented immigrants are at risk of abuse by employers and live in fear of arrest and deportation; and

WHEREAS, Any new worker visa program must provide workers with all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States, portability of visas so that workers can change jobs, and the ability for workers to petition for permanent residency; and

WHEREAS, The Diversity Visa program was established by federal law in 1990 to provide an opportunity for 55,000 immigrants each year from countries that send smaller numbers of immigrants to United States to immigrate legally; and

WHEREAS, The Diversity Visa program has truly diversified the range of countries from which immigrants come to the United States and is one of the few options for African immigrants to come to the United States, as shown in many years where as many as half of all Diversity Visas are issued to immigrants from Africa; and

WHEREAS, Abolishing the Diversity Visa program would limit the opportunities for many immigrants, especially from Africa, to come to the United States lawfully; and

WHEREAS, The nation's immigration system is laden with backlogs and as a result, legal immigrants may wait decades for family reunification; and

WHEREAS, At present, the "line" for legal immigration is about 4 million people long; and

WHEREAS, Family unity is a component of a strong economy, and reunification of families has been a key part of federal immigration policy for almost 50 years; and

WHEREAS, It is our country's best interests to create a streamlined process to resolve the backlog of existing visa applications and develop methods to ensure the efficient processing of future immigration applications in a timely manner, which will expedite reunification of families; and

WHEREAS, Keeping families, which includes husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters, together not only is the correct and moral thing to do but is also good for the economy because families provide a base of support that increases worker productivity and spurs entrepreneurship; and

WHEREAS, Illinois recognizes that immigration reform must protect the right of all families to stay together, regardless of immigration status, family structure, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, and provide sufficient family-based channels for migration in the future; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is home to 1.8 million immigrants, the sixth largest immigrant population of any state in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants make up 13.5% of Illinois' population and 17.5% of Illinois' workforce and accounted for half of the State's population growth over the last decade; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has a special pride as being one of the most immigrant-friendly states in the country, as evidenced by its deep commitment to successful programs such as the New Americans Initiative & Refugee and Immigrant Citizenship Initiative, Immigrant Family Resource Program, Parent Mentor Program and Uniting America Program; and

WHEREAS, Illinois believes in the human dignity of all Illinois residents, regardless of immigration status, and recognize the importance of immigrants' many contributions to the social and economic fabric of the state of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Illinois, therefore, has a strong interest in immigration policy and the impact it has on immigrants seeking a new life in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Immigration reform must occur in a comprehensive, thoughtful manner that builds the strength and unity of working people, keeps families together wherever possible, and guarantees the same rights, obligations, and basic fairness for all lawful workers, no matter where they come from; and

WHEREAS, The federal government has the exclusive authority to develop, implement, and enforce immigration policy under the United States Constitution, and the regulation of immigration is solely the responsibility of the federal government; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the President of the United States and the United States Congress are urged to enact comprehensive immigration reform and provide a practical and inclusive path to permanent citizenship that promotes fairness and justice, while also protecting and valuing families and upholding human dignity and mutual respect; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, members of Illinois' Congressional delegation, the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago.