SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 52

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph Cervantes

A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico shares one hundred eighty miles of border with the country of Mexico and as a result encounters unique issues arising from immigration from Mexico, South America and Central America; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico shares historic, cultural, family and economic ties to Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, it is estimated that twelve million immigrants reside and work in the United States without legal immigration status; and

     WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform aligns with American core principles of opportunity, prosperity, entrepreneurialism, rewarding hard work and family unity; and

     WHEREAS, the United States enjoys a history of embracing immigrants who have been absorbed into the republic; and

     WHEREAS, the current federal immigration system perpetuates the separation of families; and

     WHEREAS, despite a ten-fold increase in the United States

border patrol's budget and increased border patrol agents along the southern border in the last twenty years, the unauthorized immigrant population remains at an estimated twelve million, demonstrating that an enforcement-only approach to unauthorized immigration is costly and ineffective; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans understand that immigrants and the border bring together communities economically and socially; and

     WHEREAS, new immigrants are potential and much-needed workers in New Mexico's and the nation's economies and can alleviate the shortage of workers in a variety of job sectors; and

     WHEREAS, an efficient immigration program would enable businesses to hire qualified foreign workers to meet local economic demands and thereby enhance the economy; and

     WHEREAS, individual states have attempted various solutions to immigration challenges and those solutions have been deemed unlawful or ineffective; and

     WHEREAS, having states adopt conflicting immigration reforms and policies is detrimental to national cohesion; and

     WHEREAS, the best way to prevent illegal immigration is to provide a fair and workable system of legal immigration; and

     WHEREAS, in recent weeks, a bipartisan group in congress and the president have called for decisive action to fix the current broken immigration system; and

     WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform must be actively pursued and accomplished;  

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that congress and the president of the United States be urged to expeditiously enact comprehensive immigration reform; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this memorial be transmitted to the president of the United States, the president of the United States senate, the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the United States senate, the majority and minority leaders of both houses of the United States congress and the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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