FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

Cities for Action condemns House passage of the bill, urges Senate to reject the bill

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives has clearly shown that they are out of touch with the needs of children and families in this country. Among the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's many proposed changes, the bill would hurt immigrant and mixed-status families by limiting their Child Tax Credit eligibility. We urge the Senate to do right by the many thousands of working families and oppose the passage of this bill.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

Coalition of 175+ Mayors and County Executives Issues Letters to House and Senate Leaders 

Cities for Action, a coalition of over 175 mayors and county executives that advocates for welcoming and inclusive policies for immigrant residents, issued a letter today to the U.S. House of Representatives and to the Senate Committee on Finance urging opposition to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. This bill would increase child poverty for millions of children and tax-paying families, including many U.S. citizen and immigrant children. Cities for Action strongly opposes this bill, and urges all Members of Congress to reject the bill, which trades the well-being of children for tax cuts. 

Click here for the full letter to House leaders

Click here for the full letter to Senate leaders

Below is the full text of the letter from Cities for Action:

Dear Members of Congress,

Cities for Action (C4A) is a coalition of over 175 mayors and municipal leaders that advocates for welcoming and inclusive policies for immigrant residents. We are committed to protecting the well-being of all of our residents, including immigrant children and families. For that reason we are writing to you today to urge that you oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Both the House of Representatives and Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act threaten to strip Child Tax Credit (CTC) eligibility from tax-paying immigrant and mixed-status families. That would greatly harm many of the 9 million people that live in mixed-status families.

By restricting the CTC for children without Social Security Numbers, the bill would directly harm some of the most vulnerable families in the United States. The CTC is a crucial anti-poverty initiative, which lifted about 2.7 million people out of poverty in 2016, including 1.5 million children, and lessened poverty for over 12 million more, including over 6 million children.[1]

Excluding an undocumented child in a mixed-status family also harms the U.S. citizen members of that family. There are 9 million people in mixed-status families, including undocumented children, and around 400,000 of those undocumented children have U.S. citizen siblings.[2] The CTC helps working families pay for the essentials of child care – so a cut for one child affects the whole family.

Restricting access to the CTC will increase child poverty for millions of children and families, and hurt the cities and counties that would otherwise benefit from those families’ increased spending power. This is unacceptable. As local leaders, we know that our cities and counties are stronger when all residents, including tax-paying immigrant and mixed-status families, are given the opportunity to thrive. This change does the opposite: it increases poverty for U.S. citizen and immigrant children in our communities.

We urge you to oppose this effort to trade the well-being of children for tax cuts.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter,

Cities for Action 

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2017

Contact: [email protected]

As Trump Administration moves to phase out TPS for Nicaraguans, Cities for Action calls on Congress to pass legislation to protect this community

The Trump Administration’s decision to phase out Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from Nicaragua will harm the 2,550 Nicaraguan TPS recipients who call America home—and whom we have known for years as our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. These individuals have deep roots in our communities and cities, and have contributed significantly to our local economies.  Many of them are parents or guardians of U.S. citizen children. To send these members of our communities to a country they haven’t seen in years is inhumane and would bring harm to both our cities and this nation. Cities for Action urges Congress to show compassion and common sense in passing legislation to permanently protect these long-term TPS holders from deportation.

For Immediate Release: November 2, 2017

Contact: [email protected]

Cities for Action leaders call on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to extend Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans and Nicaraguans

WASHINGTON –  A coalition of 32 mayors and county executives released a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson calling on them to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Hondurans and Nicaraguans as the deadline approaches to announce TPS determinations for these countries.

The letter discusses the TPS holders’ significant civic and economic contributions to their local communities. Ending TPS, the elected officials write, would separate families and negatively impact their cities, since many Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients have called them home for almost two decades.

The TPS Program provides permission to reside and work in the United States to the nationals of designated countries who are living in the United States and cannot safely return to their home countries because of temporary dangerous conditions there. TPS is renewed typically at 18-month intervals, by assessing whether such conditions have persisted to the point of preventing the safe return of these nationals. The letter points out that over the past two decades, Honduras and Nicaragua have experienced successive natural disasters, which have in turn exacerbated public health crises, economic decline, and public safety concerns. There are currently 57,000 Honduran and 2,550 Nicaraguan TPS recipients in the United States.

The mayors and county executives who have signed today’s letter to Secretaries Duke and Tillerson are part of Cities for Action, a coalition of over 175 cities and counties that are committed to driving the national debate on immigration policies and integrating immigrants through best practices at the municipal level.

“One of the reasons Everett was named one of the top ten spots to live is because we are the most diverse community in Massachusetts. Diversity is our strength and many of our immigrants come from Honduras and Nicaragua. Extending Temporary Protection Status is good for the City of Everett, needed to protect our most vulnerable residents and the right thing to do.” - Everett Mayor Mayor Carlo DeMaria

"I stand with my fellow mayors to call on the Administration to extend TPS for the Honduran and Nicaraguan community. We cannot make members of our community return to countries that have yet to fully recover from natural disasters, in effect forcing them back to dangerous and unstable conditions. There is only one choice. The Administration must provide a full, 18-month extension of TPS." –New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

“Our Nicaraguan and Honduran TPS recipients have made this country their home. To turn them away now, after so many years, back to dangerous circumstances is un-American. I am proud to stand with my fellow Mayors and take action to show our support of immigrant and refugee communities in all our cities.” – Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney

“Extending this status to Hondurans and Nicaraguans is in keeping with the best ideals of American foreign policy: to protect innocent people who cannot return to their native lands. This is critically important now as those nations address internal strife. I urge the Secretaries to do the right thing and protect these people who cannot return home.” – Syracuse Mayor Stephanie A. Miner

Below is the full text of the letter from Cities for Action:

The Honorable Rex Tillerson
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

The Honorable Elaine Duke
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20528

November 2, 2017

Dear Acting Secretary Duke and Secretary Tillerson:

On behalf of the approximately 57,000 Honduran and 2,550 Nicaraguan recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) living in the U.S., we urge you to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Honduras and Nicaragua before it expires on January 5th, 2018.

Our cities stand to lose greatly if TPS designations for Honduras or Nicaragua are terminated. Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients contribute to our communities and economies with the help of TPS. According to a report from the Center for American Progress, the U.S. would lose an estimated $31.3 billion from its GDP over a decade without Honduran workers who hold TPS. TPS holders are our neighbors, our coworkers, local small business owners, and members of our religious communities. TPS recipients participate in the labor force at high rates, own homes and hold mortgages, and are long-time residents of this country with citizen spouses and children. Indeed, more than half of all TPS recipients have lived here for more than two decades.  These productive members of society are also among those that have submitted to the highest levels of security screening and vetting. In order to remain eligible, TPS holders undergo criminal background checks every 18 months.

Moreover, current conditions in Honduras and Nicaragua clearly demonstrate that neither country is in a position to safely absorb thousands of people. We cannot conscionably send members of our communities to danger. Since 1998, when Hurricane Mitch killed 10,000 individuals across Central America devastating the region and giving rise to TPS designations for Honduras and Nicaragua, these countries have faced successive natural disasters, which have in turn exacerbated public health crises, economic decline, and public safety concerns.  

Our Honduran and Nicaraguan communities have called upon us, their local leaders, to help ensure that they and their family members are not forced to return to conditions that will endanger their lives and livelihoods, in countries that simply cannot safely receive them.

As you render a decision on the futures of Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients, we offer a pragmatic perspective informed by our position as local government leaders. The forced departure of tens of thousands of Honduran and Nicaraguan TPS recipients from our communities would deprive us of hardworking, upstanding members of our societies, would needlessly tear apart fathers and mothers from their U.S. born children, and would subject these families to unstable and unsafe conditions in countries that cannot absorb them.

Sincerely,

Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, PA

William A. Bell, Mayor of Birmingham, AL

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston, MA

E. Denise Simmons, Mayor of Cambridge, MA

Lydia E. Lavelle, Mayor of Carrboro, NC

Thomas G. Ambrosino, City Manager of Chelsea, MA

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, IL

Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor of Chula Vista, CA

Clay Jenkins, County Judge of Dallas County, TX

Riley H. Rogers, Mayor of Dolton, IL

William V. “Bill” Bell, Mayor of Durham, NC

Carlo DeMaria, Mayor of Everett, MA

Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mayor of Gary, IN

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

Paul R. Soglin, Mayor of Madison, WI

Tomas Regalado, Mayor of Miami, FL

Isiah Leggett, County Executive of Montgomery County, MD

Megan Barry, Mayor of Nashville, TN

Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, NY

Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland, CA

Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando, FL

Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia, PA

Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor of Plainfield, NJ

Rushern L. Baker, III, County Executive of Prince George’s County, MD

Liz Lempert, Mayor of Princeton, NJ

Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor of Saint Paul, MN

Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, TX

Ted Winterer, Mayor of Santa Monica, CA

Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

Sarah Eckhardt, County Executive of Travis County, TX

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC

Jim Provenza, County Supervisor of Yolo County, CA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

CITIES AND COUNTIES FILE AMICUS BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS IN PHILADELPHIA V. SESSIONS

A coalition of cities and counties, led by the County of Santa Clara, are filing an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in the City of Philadelphia v. Sessions. Twenty-four cities, counties, and municipal agencies, along with four major associations of local governments and their officials, signed the brief, which supports Philadelphia's motion for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the Department of Justice from denying federal funding based on new, arbitrary grant requirements.

The amici understand that it is essential for cities to build and maintain the trust of all their residents, regardless of immigration status. To advance public safety, cities must be able to adopt policies that foster that trust and meet communities’ unique needs. The DOJ’s new conditions on the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program violate federal law, usurp local control over public safety policy, erode the community trust on which local law enforcement depends, and create uncertainty for local governments.

For amicus brief filing, click here.

Created in 2014, Cities for Action is a coalition of mayors and county executives working for stronger and safer cities through immigrant inclusive policies and programs. Cities for Action members are committed to driving the national debate on immigration policies and integrating immigrants through best practices at the municipal level.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 9, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

Cities for Action – 175 mayors and county officials representing over 55 million people– denounce the President’s recently announced immigration demands and calls for passage of the DREAM Act

WASHINGTON - The President's unceasing attempts to criminalize and demonize immigrant communities and the places they live is disjointed from reality and inconsistent with our values as Americans. Dreamers must not be held hostage or used as bargaining chips for broadly unpopular policies that do not advance our nation. Cities for Action will continue to advocate on behalf of Dreamers and immigrant communities because their contributions make our cities and counties safer and stronger. We urge our national leaders to heed the voices of a majority of Americans who stand with Dreamers and support bipartisan efforts to pass the DREAM Act.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 5, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

MAYORS & COUNTY OFFICIALS DENOUNCE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DECISION TO END DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS

Cities for Action – representing 55 million people across the nation – condemns the President’s decision to rescind DACA and calls on Congress to swiftly pass a legislative solution

WASHINGTON – President Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) is heartless. DACA is a common-sense policy that allows nearly 800,000 immigrant youth to come out of the shadows and contribute to the U.S. economy. These young people only know the United States as their home, but the President’s decision will expose them to deportation and take away their ability to work, putting their lives and the well-being of their families in jeopardy. Mayors and county executives are committed to utilizing every avenue to protect and provide for these young people. Congress must take immediate action to pass critical legislation that protects Dreamers from deportation. A solution is long overdue and the time for a permanent solution is now.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2017
CONTACT: [email protected]

MAYORS & COUNTY OFFICIALS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE DACA AND SUPPORT AMERICA’S DREAMERS

On DACA’s 5th anniversary, Cities for Action calls on the President to defend Dreamers

WASHINGTON – Over 100 mayors and county officials from 35 states issued a letter today to President Trump calling on him to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program until a legislative solution is enacted for all undocumented immigrant youth, otherwise referred to as Dreamers. Our cities have embraced the DACA program, and DACA has in turn provided thousands of our residents with the opportunity to pursue higher education, career goals, and give back to the country they call home. Cities and counties have supported DACA applicants and recipients through investments in legal services, outreach efforts to eligible youth, and easing access to school records and public documents for prospective applicants. These contributions have helped nearly 800,000 individuals obtain DACA and give back to their communities:

• DACA recipients serve our localities in all kinds of critical roles—including medical professionals, teachers, and even municipal employees.  
• 1.3 million young undocumented immigrants enrolled or immediately eligible for DACA contribute an estimated $2 billion a year in state and local taxes.
• This includes personal income, property, and sales and excise taxes. DACA-eligible individuals pay on average 8.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes.

The mayors who have signed on to today's letter to the President are part of Cities for Action, a coalition of over 150 cities and counties, representing over 55 million residents, leading on immigration action through federal advocacy and local programs.

See below for quotes from signatories and the full text of the letter:

“A third of Texas children have at least one parent who is an immigrant. This isn’t a political issue in Texas. This affects the real lives of millions of our neighbors.”
–Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin, TX

“As the Mayor of Wisconsin’s largest city, I am wholeheartedly supportive of retaining DACA. Nearly 8,000 Wisconsinites who contribute to the economic wellbeing of our state would be affected by the failure to continue this essential program. I urge President Trump to uphold the DACA program to provide the necessary protections for our immigrant community until Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform.”
–Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee, WI

“Our nation’s DREAMers enrich our communities and contribute so much to our social and economic fabric. Preserving the DACA program is essential to allowing the thousands of children of immigrants across Tennessee and around the country to work, study, and reach their full potential in ours, a nation of immigrants.”
–Megan Barry, Mayor of Nashville, TN

“As its name suggests, DACA has protected the dreams of thousands of young people in Salt Lake City. These DREAMers improve our community, strengthen our economy, and most importantly enrich our local and national experience. Preserving DACA means defending the best of what we are as Americans, and I urge the Administration to keep this dream alive.”
–Jackie Biskupski, Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT

“Our City is home to 30,000 DACA recipients who still believe in the possibility of the American Dream. Many of these Dreamers only know New York City as home, and they have made the most of it. They are our nurses, our teachers, our students, and our public servants. DACA recipients are also taxpayers and integral to our economies. I stand with over 100 mayors and county officials across the country in calling on the President to continue and defend the DACA program – it’s the right thing to do, and it’s the smart thing to do.”
–Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, NY

“Washington, DC remains steadfastly committed to promoting and defending DC values. This includes supporting our residents who seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. We urge the President to uphold our country’s commitment to our DREAMers.”
–Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC

"We're fortunate in the City of Buffalo to welcome arrivals from all over the world and a great majority of them quickly become part of the fabric of our diverse and growing neighborhoods.  We support the DACA program and its positive effects for communities across the nation. I'm proud to reiterate my commitment to immigrants across our City and join with fellow representatives in encouraging the President to maintain his past support of the DACA program."
–Byron W. Brown, Mayor of Buffalo, NY

“DACA recipients are valued in the Richmond community and no one benefits shutting them out. Our immigrant community and youth are an obvious asset in cities across the nation.”
–Tom Butt, Mayor of Richmond, CA

“Dreamers have played a vital role in shaping our nation, and currently play an important role in boosting our economy. We must reaffirm our commitment to their inclusion and safety in our communities.”
–Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, IN

"We welcome immigrants and refugees to Minnesota so that they might have a chance at achieving their dreams, just like my grandmother did when she came here from Ireland 100 years ago. DACA makes those dreams a real possibility and I am proud to stand with my colleagues to fight for the future of so many young people."
–Chris Coleman, Mayor of Saint Paul, MN

“The City of Cambridge, MA urges continuation of the DACA program so that young folks, brought to the US as children, can fulfill their dreams for education and opportunity in the country they have grown up in and love. The people of Cambridge believe that these young people make valuable contributions to our community, our state and our nation, which would be undercut by eliminating this crucial program. We therefore urge the President not to take the draconian action of eliminating DACA, the loss of which would be so detrimental to our community.”
–Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager of Cambridge, MA

"These children have only ever known life as Americans. Let's be the beacon of hope for them that America was for our ancestors. To do anything less would tear apart families and betray our own heritage as the descendants of immigrants. They deserve better."
–Daniel Drew, Mayor of Middletown, CT

“Travis County is home to more than 14,000 DREAMers who are enriching our community and making valuable contributions to the lives of Central Texans. Instituting DACA made it possible for these outstanding young people to come out of the shadows and make a difference. We need to move past the anti-immigrant hysteria that has consumed our politics and recognize that we need to make the most of everyone’s talents and abilities to move forward into a brighter future.”
–Sarah Eckhardt, County Judge of Travis County

“The United States was built on the dreams of immigrants and their dedication to our country.” 
–Veronica Escobar, County Judge of El Paso, TX

“DACA represents a critical step in the road to comprehensive immigration reform.  A step away from DACA would be a step in the wrong direction.”
–Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mayor of Gary, IN

“As an immigrant myself, I want others to have the same opportunities that I’ve had. My family was able to become citizens because Ronald Reagan signed the 1986 immigration bill. It’s time for this Republican Congress to follow his lead.”
–Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach, CA

“The Borough of State College strongly supports the principles of equity, inclusion and justice for all persons in our community. It is important that all residents and visitors in our community, including immigrants, know that this is a safe and welcoming community.”
–Elizabeth Goreham, Mayor of State College, PA 

“Students striving to achieve deserve the opportunity to do so in the neighborhood they grew up in. I cannot fathom an American system that would not provide that opportunity to immigrant youth. The DACA program embodies everything that this nation is built on and to eliminate this program would not only devastate our families and communities but go against who we are as a country.”
–Michael B. Hancock, Mayor of Denver, CO

“DACA was the first step in the long journey to comprehensive immigration reform. It allows thousands of young working and productive immigrants to continue being part of our communities and contributing to our national development. DACA was intended as a temporary and humane solution for thousands of young immigrants who have lived in the United States since they were minors. Eliminating DACA and denying hardworking individuals the right to stay in the United States will break families apart and ultimately hurt our communities by depriving them of these talented youth.”
–John Heilman, Mayor of the City of West Hollywood, CA

“The Texas Republican leadership is targeting young people who know no other country and are among our best and brightest. This hurts not only Dreamer families but our broader economy and middle class wage rates for citizens.”
–Clay Lewis Jenkins, County Judge of Dallas, TX

“In Baltimore County, we are embracing the children who came here as youngsters, grew up as Americans, and are now contributing to the American dream. We urge the President to continue our country’s support of America’s Dreamers.”
–Kevin Kamenetz, County Executive of Baltimore County

“DACA allows young adults who have never known any other home to give back to the country that raised them. Deporting these tax-paying residents who have lived, been educated and work in the United States, is not only cruel, it makes no sense.”
–Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia, PA

“St. Louis has a strong tradition of welcoming immigrants,   we are proud of. We believe everyone deserves a chance to make a better life for themselves and their families. Diversity makes us stronger.”
–Lyda Krewson, Mayor of St. Louis, MO

“We are inspired by the integrity, productivity and perseverance of our DACA youth. San Francisco and other cities across the nation benefit immeasurably from the contributions of these young individuals.”
–Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, CA

“DACA offers the promise of opportunity and protection for thousands of young people who came forward. They are valuable contributors to our communities, economy and nation. I stand with mayors across this nation to support this promise.”
–Wayne M. Messam, Mayor of Miramar, FL

“DACA has made a better life for thousands of young people in the United States, affording the opportunity to attend higher education and becoming productive, taxpaying residents who are building stronger communities in cities like Syracuse. I am proud to join Cities for Action and mayors from across the country in urging President Trump to keep this crucial program in place.”
–Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

“This Administration’s efforts to marginalize immigrants are unconstitutional and un-American. That’s why Seattle is suing the Trump administration over its anti-immigrant executive order. Our commitment to Seattle’s immigrant community, including our program to help young immigrants integrate and succeed in Seattle schools, isn’t just about a commitment to civil rights. It’s also about recognizing the facts. We know that immigrants and new citizens, particularly the creativity and brain power of young immigrants, lift Seattle’s economy. Undoing DACA would be dumb policy for Seattle and the country.” 
–Ed Murray, Mayor of Seattle, WA

"Pittsburgh is, has been, and always will be a welcoming and diverse city. Immigrants and refugees are welcome here and I proudly stand with Cities for Action and mayors across the country in support of DACA. We must continue to work towards immigration reform and strive to protect all of our residents and neighbors."
–William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA

“Atlanta is a city that historically has stood up for the civil and human rights of everyone, but we live in uncertain times.  We know that many Atlantans are fearful and concerned about their families. They question whether their freedoms will be upheld and lawfully protected. They worry that they will suffer persecution from a surge in bigotry. Any threat to our constitutionally guaranteed liberty is a threat to all Atlantans, we will continue to vigorously protect and support immigrant students who are DACA recipients. We value the economic and cultural vitality these young people bring to our city.”
–Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta, GA

“DACA allows hardworking, law-abiding young people to pursue their dreams in Tennessee, which, for many of them, is the only home they've ever known.  I urge the administration to preserve DACA so these strivers can pursue the American dream.”
–Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, TN

“Hardworking, law-abiding young people should be allowed to pursue their dreams and goals without being hindered. I strongly urge this administration to preserve DACA so those who have the desire to achieve and accomplish great things can go as high and as far as their determination and talent will take them. The path of inclusion, not exclusion, is the American way.”
–Riley H. Rogers, Mayor of Dolton, IL

“Eliminating DACA is senseless and counter-productive. DACA reflects their integration into our economic and civil society and should only be replaced with permanent resident status.”
–Mary Casillas Salas Mayor of Chula Vista, CA

“As a County Supervisor, I am committed to serving and supporting all members of our community, regardless of immigration status. Many of the young people participating in the DACA program in Yolo County are students at the University of California, Davis, are adding to our local economy, and are seeking a legal path to fully participate in the life of our community. Through no fault of their own they find themselves in limbo. They have worked hard and earned our admiration and a fair chance.” 
–Don Saylor, County Supervisor of Yolo County

“Oakland is proud to stand with hundreds of cities and town across this country which strongly urge the Administration to take an informed moral stand and protect the DACA program. Oakland and Alameda County is home to approximately 17,000 DACA eligible individuals. These longtime residents of our city and county are part of a community we are steadfastly committed to protecting from the devastating impacts of family separation and deportation.”
–Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland, CA

“DACA is a critical safeguard for more than 780,000 young people who have been granted permission to live and work legally in our country over the past 5 years. As a diverse city where more than one in ten of our residents were born in a country other than the United States, Albany stands with cities across the nation by calling on our President to continue this important program.”
–Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany, NY

“Discrimination of any kind is wrong and to single out young people who are working hard to live the American dream is just wrong. DACA is an important protection and needs to be preserved and strengthened.”
–Paul Soglin, Mayor of Madison, WI

“Immigrants including DACA recipients are vital to Dodge City and Southwest Kansas economy.  Continuing DACA and working towards a permanent solution for these young immigrants should be our priority. DACA beneficiaries make an indelible positive impact in our cities and our country.” 
-Rick Sowers, Mayor of Dodge City, KS

“Reasonable and responsible policy has to be a priority rather than unilateral deportation that will result in broken families and broken communities.  Immigrants are our neighbors, our friends and our family.  They are a part of our community and a part of what makes Union City such as great place to live. DACA has made the American Dream a reality for many and its elimination is short-sighted and a major setback for our country.” 
-Brian P. Stack, Mayor of Union City, NJ

“It is a moral imperative that we keep the doors of opportunity open to the nearly 30,000 Arizonans enrolled in DACA who are making meaningful contributions to our community. Their plight is the result of the failure of Congress to act, and partisan politics should never get in the way of young people working toward a better life.”
–Greg Stanton, Mayor of Phoenix, AZ

“DACA enables thousands of young people throughout our country to pursue their dreams regardless of their immigration status. These are not criminals or drug dealers. These are hard-working students who call the United States home and who, through no fault of their own, now face a potentially devastating threat. I urge this administration to preserve DACA and defend the American values of liberty, inclusivity and acceptance.”
–Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento, CA

“Houston is the most diverse city in our nation. DACA students are part of the fabric of our community and have shown they can and will thrive when given the opportunity. I stand with my fellow mayors and hope that we will keep our promise to these students by not closing our doors to them.”
–Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, TX

"DACA allows DREAMers to give back to this country and to their communities. These immigrants -- neighbors, students, workers -- who were brought to the United States as children deserve a fair chance to continue building their lives in the U.S. We urge the federal government to preserve DACA until sensible, comprehensive immigration reform legislation is passed."
–Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston, MA

"Dreamers were brought here as children and had no say, but now are students or professionals only accustomed to our great American culture.  We must continue to protect these youth who are contributing positively to our nation. They deserve our protection just as our nation has always stepped up to protect children not only in the United States, but around the world.”
–Acquanetta Warren, Mayor of Fontana, CA

“Rochester is the home of Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, trailblazers who fought for the rights of our country’s most vulnerable citizens.  We must continue to fight for these progressive values, and DACA is a critical policy that protects thousands of youth across our nation.”
–Lovely Warren, Mayor of Rochester, NY

“The City of Dayton has a long history of being a welcoming and inclusive community for all of our residents.  Our immigrant community expands the rich cultural experience for those who live, work, play and gather in the City. DREAMers position us for global economic opportunities that lead to job creation and retention.  Dayton is an innovation hub that has benefited from the experiences of people around the world.  We urge the administration to continue DACA.” 
-Nan Whaley, Mayor of the City of Dayton, OH

Below is the full text of the letter from Cities for Action:

August 15, 2017

President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As mayors and county executives in the Cities for Action coalition, we write to urge you to maintain your past support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to engage with Congress on bipartisan efforts to enact the DREAM Act. In the immediate term, we urge you to commit to continue the DACA program until a legislative solution is achieved.

Cities for Action is a national coalition of over 150 mayors and county executives, representing over 55 million residents, that advocates for programs and policies that promote immigrant inclusion to create stronger and safer cities. As local government leaders throughout the country, we know that immigrants make our communities stronger economically, culturally, and socially. For these reasons, we strongly support the DACA program.

Localities have long supported federal immigration measures that advance immigrant integration, because municipalities are where the needs of our nation’s immigrants are felt most keenly. Local governments took a frontline implementation role with the 2012 DACA directive by investing money in outreach and legal services, working with school districts to create new databases to facilitate record requests, and improving access to public documents. Some of these initiatives include:

• The City of Boston partnered with community organizations to help eligible people apply for DACA, explore other forms of immigration relief, and avoid scams.
• In Highland Park, the Mayor’s Office organized legal clinics to assist eligible youth with DACA applications.
• The City of Long Beach has worked with local schools and colleges to support DACA students.
• Los Angeles hosts “Know Your Rights” workshops across the city to help DACA recipients and their families learn about their rights. The City also runs the L.A. College Promise, which provides one year of free enrollment to graduating L.A. seniors, including DACA beneficiaries.
• New York City launched the first-ever advertising campaign geared towards immigrants in City history: a DACA awareness campaign that reached over 480,000 individuals. The City also launched a public health education campaign to facilitate enrollment among potential DACA applicants
• The City of San Francisco has invested to provide free legal services and community outreach and education for DACA. The City has also partnered with community organizations to provide DACA application fee assistance. In addition, the City created the DreamSF Fellows Program, which matches DACA-approved college students with internships at immigrant-serving community organizations.
• The County of Santa Clara has invested in DACA outreach and education and established the New Americans Fellowship program, providing DACA beneficiaries with paid internships with the County and nonprofits.
• City and county governments across the country have provided DACA resources and links to community events to support eligible immigrants in their localities.

Now a small number of states are pressuring your Administration to take away DACA from nearly 800,000 young people who have come forward, passed background checks, and have made the most of their opportunity to live and work in America lawfully. This is in no one’s best interest.  These young people reflect who we are as a coalition: cities with vibrant immigrant communities working toward the American dream in the ultimate nation of immigrants. DACA recipients are students, employees, and family members. They contribute to our country with their taxes, their innovative ideas, and the indelible positive impact they leave on our communities. Protecting the relief afforded to this population, and formalizing it legislatively will have immense social and economic benefits to our local governments. Therefore, allowing these young people to remain in the country with DACA or permanently through a legislative solution—a position supported by the vast majority of American voters across the political spectrum—would only further reveal the vast potential of these young people.

We also know in empirical terms the effects DACA has on our cities and states, and what we would lose if DACA were to be taken away:

• 1.3 million young undocumented immigrants enrolled or immediately eligible for DACA contribute an estimated $2 billion a year in state and local taxes. This includes personal income, property, and sales and excise taxes.
• DACA-eligible individuals pay on average 8.9 percent of their income in state and local taxes.

We care about all of our residents, including those with DACA and their families. We want to make sure that our residents can continue living without the fear of being uprooted from their homes: our cities and counties.

You have singular power and influence to shape this moment in American history, and “show great heart”—as well as pragmatism and economic sense—in your decision about how to protect our young, undocumented immigrants who have relied on the U.S. government’s word for security and stability. We call on you to stand with these young people, and stand for the best of what America represents.

Sincerely,

Kathy Sheehan, Mayor of Albany, NY

Allison Silberberg, Mayor of Alexandria, VA

Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, PA

Ethan Berkowitz, Mayor of the Municipality of Anchorage, AK

Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta, GA

Stephen D. Hogan, Mayor of Aurora, CO

Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin, TX

Catherine E. Pugh, Mayor of Baltimore City, MD

Kevin Kamenetz, County Executive of Baltimore County, MD

Joseph Baldacci, Mayor of Bangor, ME

William A. Bell, Mayor of Birmingham, AL

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston, MA

Suzanne Jones, Mayor of the City of Boulder, CO

Antonio Martinez, Mayor of Brownsville, TX

Byron W. Brown, Mayor of Buffalo, NY

Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager of Cambridge, MA

Lydia E. Lavelle, Mayor of the Town of Carrboro, NC

James Diossa, Mayor of Central Falls, RI

Pam Hemminger, Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC

Andy Berke, Mayor of Chattanooga, TN

Thomas G. Ambrosino, City Manager of Chelsea, MA

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, IL

Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor of Chula Vista, CA

Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor of Columbus, OH

Biff Traber, Mayor of Corvallis, OR

Michael S. Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas, TX

Clay Lewis Jenkins, County Judge of Dallas County, TX

Nan Whaley, Mayor of Dayton, OH

Michael B. Hancock, Mayor of Denver, CO

Rick Sowers, Mayor of Dodge City, KS

Riley H Rogers, Mayor of Dolton, IL

Mark S. Meadows, Mayor of East Lansing, MI

Veronica Escobar, County Judge of El Paso County, TX

Acquanetta Warren, Mayor of Fontana, CA

Karen Freeman-Wilson, Mayor of Gary, IN

Domenick Stampone, Mayor of Haledon Borough, NJ

Luke Bronin, Mayor of Hartford, CT

Nancy Rotering, Mayor of Highland Park, IL

Alex Morse, Mayor of Holyoke, MA

Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, TX

Stephen T. Williams, Mayor of Huntington, WV

Chokwe A. Lumumba, Mayor of Jackson, MS

Steven M. Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City, NJ

Mark Holland, Mayor of Kansas City, KS

Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, MO

Madeline Rogero, Mayor of Knoxville, TN

Virg Bernero, Mayor of Lansing, MI

Mark Stodola, Mayor of Little Rock, AR

Robert Garcia, Mayor of Long Beach, CA

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

Paul R. Soglin, Mayor of Madison, WI

Judy Arnold, President of Marin County Board of Supervisors, CA

John Giles, Mayor of Mesa, AZ

Daniel T. Drew, Mayor of Middletown, CT

Tom Barrett, Mayor of Milwaukee, WI

Peggy A. West, County Supervisor of Milwaukee County, WI

Wayne M. Messam, Mayor of Miramar, FL

Ike Leggett, County Executive of Montgomery County, MD

Megan Barry, Mayor of Nashville, TN

Toni N. Harp, Mayor of New Haven, CT

Noam Bramson, Mayor of New Rochelle, NY

Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, NY

Alan L. Nagy, Mayor of Newark, CA

Setti Warren, Mayor of Newton, MA

Harry W. Rilling, Mayor of Norwalk, CT

Libby Schaaf, Mayor of Oakland, CA

Sue Higgins, Mayor of Oakley, CA

Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando, FL

Jose "Joey" Torres, Mayor of Paterson, NJ

Jim Kenney, Mayor of Philadelphia, PA

Greg Stanton, Mayor of Phoenix, AZ

William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA

Adrian O. Mapp, Mayor of Plainfield, NJ

Liz Lempert, Mayor of Princeton, NJ

Jorge Elorza, Mayor of Providence, RI

Hillary Schieve, Mayor of Reno, NV

Tom Butt, Mayor of Richmond, CA

Lovely Warren, Mayor of Rochester, NY

Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento, CA

Dave Cortese, Board of Supervisors President of Santa Clara County, CA

Chris Coleman, Mayor of Saint Paul, MN

Jackie Biskupski, Mayor of Salt Lake City, UT

Ron Nirenberg, Mayor of San Antonio, TX

Sylvia Ballin, Mayor of San Fernando, CA

Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of City and County of San Francisco, CA

Sam Liccardo, Mayor of San Jose, CA

Pauline Russo Cutter, Mayor of San Leandro, CA

Javier M. Gonzales, Mayor of Santa Fe, NM

Ted Winterer, Mayor of Santa Monica, CA

Edward B. Murray, Mayor of Seattle, WA

George Van Dusen, Mayor of Skokie, IL

Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor of Somerville, MA

Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, IN

Lyda Krewson, Mayor of St. Louis, MO

Elizabeth A. Goreham, Mayor of State College Borough, PA

Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

Marilyn Strickland, Mayor of Tacoma, WA

Andrew Gillum, Mayor of Tallahassee, FL

Sarah Eckhardt, County Judge of Travis County, TX

Eric E. Jackson, Mayor of Trenton/Mercer County, NJ

Jonathan Rothschild, Mayor of Tucson, AZ

Brian P. Stack, Mayor of Union City, NJ

Richard G. Carlston, Mayor of Walnut Creek, CA

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, DC

John Heilman, Mayor of West Hollywood, CA

Don Saylor, County Supervisor of Yolo County, CA

Jim Provenza, County Supervisor of Yolo County, CA

Mike Spano, Mayor of the City of Yonkers, NY

For Immediate Release: June 29, 2017
Contact: [email protected] 

STATEMENT FROM CITIES FOR ACTION ON ANTI-IMMIGRANT HOUSE BILLS

The following statement can be attributed to Cities for Action:

“Today the U.S.House of Representatives passed two bills, H.R. 3003 and H.R. 3004, that do not reflect American values. These bills unjustly target immigrant communities and the cities that welcome them. Cities across the country have adopted a variety of policies to improve public safety and increase cooperation amongst local law enforcement and immigrant communities. These bills threaten that approach, undermine the efforts of cities, and will ultimately make localities less safe.”

Created in 2014, Cities for Action is a coalition of over 150 mayors and county executives working for stronger and safer cities through immigrant inclusive policies and programs. Cities for Action members are committed to driving the national debate on immigration policies and integrating immigrants through best practices at the municipal level.

2017/06/28 – CITIES TO HOUSE LEADERSHIP: OPPOSE ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILLS H.R. 3003 & H.R. 3004

Coalition of 150+ Mayors and County Executives Issues Letter to House Leaders

Cities for Action, a coalition of over 150 mayors and county executives advocating for and implementing policies and programs to promote inclusion of immigrants, issued two letters today to leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives urging opposition to anti-immigrant legislation H.R. 3003, the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, and H.R. 3004, Kate’s Law. Both of these bills undercut localities’ public safety efforts, hinder local law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe, and threaten to separate families. In addition, these bills will further criminalize immigrants under a false premise that they are threats to our communities. Cities for Action strongly opposes these bills due to their negative impact on our foreign-born residents and their total opposition to our policies and values. The coalition urges all Members of Congress to stand with immigrant communities and vote against these bills.

Click here for the letter regarding H.R. 3003.

Click here for the letter regarding H.R. 3004. 

Below is the full text of the letters from Cities for Action:

Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

June 28, 2017

Dear Members of Congress,

Cities for Action (C4A) is a coalition of over 150 mayors and municipal leaders that advocates for policies and programs that promote inclusion of foreign-born residents. Our coalition has a deep commitment to promoting public safety and building trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. We are writing to you today to urge that you oppose the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, H.R. 3003.

Cities and counties are united in our opposition to Representative Goodlatte’s bill, which would undermine local public safety efforts. Nearly 600 jurisdictions have a variety of policies that would put them at risk of losing millions of dollars in federal funding for local law enforcement, national security, drug treatment, and crime victim initiatives. These policies were adopted due to constitutional concerns and judgements made on the best use of limited resources. Rather than empowering localities to adopt measures designed to enhance the general welfare of their residents, H.R. 3003 would strip localities of the ability to enact common-sense crime prevention policies that ensure victims of crime will seek protection and report crimes.  

Among the types of grants that would be at risk are: the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which addresses the growing number of unsubmitted sexual assault kits in law enforcement custody and aims to provide help for victims; the Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction Program, which is designed to create safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in gang violence and gun crime; and the Research and Evaluation on Trafficking of Persons, which helps support cities’ efforts to respond to the challenges that human trafficking pose in their jurisdiction. 

This bill also raises serious concerns by undermining local laws and criminal prosecutions. It would prevent states or localities from establishing laws or policies that prohibit or “in any way” restrict compliance with or cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This intrudes into local policies that help foster a relationship of trust between law enforcement officials and immigrants that will, in turn, promote public safety for all our residents.

This also raises serious constitutional concerns. The Tenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution limits the federal government’s ability to mandate particular action by states and localities, including in the area of federal immigration law enforcement and investigations. The federal government cannot force states or localities to enact or administer a federal regulatory program, or compel state or local employees to participate in the administration of a federally enacted regulatory scheme.

In addition, this bill permits DHS to ignore validly issued state or local criminal warrants, which would prevent jurisdictions from completing their prosecution of criminals. The provisions of this bill undercut local law enforcement and will jeopardize public safety efforts.

Local governments have a strong interest in protecting all residents and maintaining public safety. Therefore, we urge you to oppose the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act, H.R. 3003, and ensure it never becomes law.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter,

Cities for Action

Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

June 28, 2017

Dear Members of Congress,

Cities for Action (C4A) is a coalition of over 150 mayors and municipal leaders that advocates for policies to promote the well-being of our foreign born residents. Our coalition, representing over 50 million residents, has a considerable interest in protecting all our residents and ensuring that immigrants are not unjustly criminalized. We are writing to you today to urge that you oppose Representative Goodlatte’s bill, H.R. 3004, Kate’s Law.

Kate’s Law expands already tough penalties for illegal reentry and allows the government to detain immigrants indefinitely without bond or a court hearing. It also mistakenly implies that illegal reentry cases are under-enforced. Indeed, illegal reentry prosecutions already account for 52 percent of all federal prosecutions. H.R. 3004 would make the criminal sentences for reentry extremely harsh. Additionally, it would impose severe sentencing enhancements on people with minor offenses who reenter the country.

H.R. 3004 would also limit the ability to challenge the validity of any prior removal order that forms the basis for a prosecution for illegal reentry, subjecting people to prosecution even in cases where the prior order was issued without due process or was otherwise flawed. In addition, the bill does not provide adequate protections for people who reenter the United States for humanitarian reasons or those who seek protection at the border, putting asylum seekers and families at risk.

Cities and counties are opposed to this bill because these measures do not improve public safety and it is based on a false premise that immigrants pose a threat to our communities. Local governments have a strong interest in protecting all residents and maintaining public safety. Therefore, we urge you to oppose Kate’s Law and stop its passage into law at every possible turn.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter,

Cities for Action