HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.102-13 RESOLUTION NO. 102
(Series of 2013)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ASPEN, COLORADO ENDORSING THE
BORDER SECURITY, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND IMMIGRATION
MODERNIZATION ACT
WHEREAS, the United States has a long and rich heritage of generous immigration laws;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen's and Colorado's identity is defined by its promise of
equal opportunity, esteem for diversity and commitment to innovation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen and Colorado have prospered because of the contributions
of hardworking immigrants, who aspire to citizenship; and
WHEREAS, many employers in the City of Aspen and the State are faced with an
insufficient number of visas for workers to support their needs, with arbitrary visa caps creating
backlogs, and inadequate government infrastructure to efficiently administer numerous guest
worker programs; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform should update the legal immigration
system so that the future flow of legal guest workers more realistically matches our nation's
labor needs and is structured to protect the employment, wages, and working conditions of U.S.
and lawful immigrant workers; and
WHEREAS, any new guest worker visa program must provide for strict compliance with
United States labor standards and wage and hour standards, portability of visas so that workers
can change jobs under prescribed circumstances, and the ability for workers to petition for
permanent residency; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform must aim to reduce the unreasonable
wait times and overly complex rules that keep families unreasonably separated from their loved
ones; and
WHEREAS, Colorado citizens support a comprehensive immigration reform that keeps
families together wherever possible, upholds our values as a state and nation, promotes small
business and economic growth, and provides long-term, practicable and enforceable solutions to
our broken immigration system; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive approach to fixing our broken immigration system is
supported by agriculture, business, advocacy, and the faith communities; and
WHEREAS,the United States Senate has shown leadership in the passage of 5.744 the
"Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act,"a bipartisan
measure to reform our nation's immigration laws, and
WHEREAS, the United States House of Representatives has failed to act on
comprehensive immigration reform, and
WHEREAS, we recognize the importance of immigrants' many contributions to the
social and economic fabric of the City of Aspen and the State of Colorado;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO, THAT the City Council hereby supports the Border Security, Economic
Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on this 18th
day of November, 2013. ;
U s.
Steven Skadron, Mayor
1, Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foreg 'ng is a true
and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado,
at a meeting held on the day hereinabove stated.
Kathryn S. Koch, City derk