CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
FOURTEENTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S R-151 ENACTMENT NO. R-2001-009
SPONSORED BY: Hess Yntema
RESOLUTION
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Declaring The City Of Albuquerque An Immigrant-Friendly City; Establishing City Of Albuquerque Policies Regarding Immigrants And Their Families, Regardless Of Immigration Status; Establishing A City Of Albuquerque Immigrant Resource Program; And Providing An Appropriation.
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WHEREAS, thousands of immigrants and their families have lived and worked in the Albuquerque metropolitan area for many years; and
WHEREAS, immigrants from throughout the world contribute to Albuquerque's cultural richness and economic prosperity, through their labor and initiative, payment of taxes, and other economic and cultural activities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque lacks programs to provide information and assistance to immigrants;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1: The Council declares Albuquerque to be an immigrant-friendly City. The Council welcomes and encourages immigrants to live, work, and study in Albuquerque and to participate in community affairs, and recognizes immigrants for their important contributions to our culture and economy.
SECTION 2: The Council establishes the following policies for the City of Albuquerque:
(A) To the fullest extent allowed by federal and state law, immigrants who live within the city limits of Albuquerque and their families shall have access to all City services and programs.
(B) The City encourages all public agencies to facilitate the access of immigrants and their families to basic services, including but not limited to legal driver's licenses, health care, and education, including Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute and the University of New Mexico, to the fullest extent allowable by law.
(C) The City will include in its legislative agenda requests that Congress enact just and humane immigration reforms that provide immigrants and their families with rights in this country that are commensurate with human dignity and their status as taxpayers and contributing members of our community, and that the State of New Mexico Legislature revise its laws and policies for health care, education, and drivers' licenses to such that immigrants and their families will have fair access to those services and privileges.
(D) The City shall not discriminate on the basis of a person's national origin and will treat all persons with respect and dignity, regardless of immigration status. The Human Rights Commission shall oversee the implementation of this policy.
(E) No municipal resources shall be used to identify individuals' immigration status or apprehend persons on the sole basis of immigration status, unless otherwise required by law to do so.
SECTION 3: Each City department shall develop operational procedures consistent with the policies set out in this Resolution.
SECTION 4: An Immigrant Resource Program is established, to provide information and referral in the areas of English as a Second Language education, citizenship classes, housing, health care, secondary vocational and higher education and other areas. The Administration will recommend to the Council whether this program should be administered by a City department or by contract.
SECTION 5: The amount of $50,000 is appropriated to the Department of Family and Community Services from the Unreserved Fund Balance in the General Fund for the remainder of FY 2001 for the Immigrant Resource Program.
SECTION 6: The Administration shall develop an estimated fiscal impact for the FY/02 Operating Budget and report back to the City Council prior to the adoption of the FY/02 General Fund Budget.