CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION affirming The City of Seattle’s commitment to fostering a welcoming community that protects all its residents and declaring its support for providing permanent protection and a path to citizenship for immigrant youth and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients for whom the United States is home.
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WHEREAS, it has been nearly three decades since the United States Congress took meaningful action on passing critically needed reforms to our nation’s immigration system, resulting in needless pain and suffering to millions of families who deal with the effects of a broken system and to the country as a whole; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle values being a welcoming city of community, opportunity, and equity for all residents, workers, and visitors; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle adopted Resolution 30851 in 2006, Resolution 31193 in 2010, and Resolution 31490 in 2013 supporting Federal Comprehensive Immigration Reform and fostering family unity with a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle adopted Resolution 31730 in 2017 affirming itself as a Welcoming City that promotes programs and policies that include all, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle adopted Resolution 31779 in 2017 supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and denouncing harmful federal policies and hateful rhetoric against immigrant communities; and
WHEREAS, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R. 6) would provide permanent legal status and a pathway to citizenship for more than 2.5 million immigrant youth brought to the United States as children, some of them recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients; and
WHEREAS, DACA, TPS, and DED holders are deeply-rooted in communities across America; the average Dream Act-eligible residents of Seattle came to the country at the age of 10, while the average TPS holder has been in the country for 22 years; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle metropolitan area is home to an estimated 14,100 immigrants who could be protected under the provisions included in the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019; and
WHEREAS, these residents are integral members of our community as our neighbors, our coworkers, our business owners and employers; they are students and youth who represent the energy and talent to change the world; they are mothers, fathers, and spouses of U.S. citizens, taxpayers, and beloved community members who have built their lives over many years here in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle recognizes that these immigrant households enrich and revitalize our economy, contributing an estimated $40.5 million in federal taxes and $20.1 million in state and local taxes annually, and hold $158 million in spending power; without congressional action our city could see the disappearance of their tax contributions, spending power, and mortgage payments, which would have long-lasting repercussions to our local economy; and
WHEREAS, in the absence of a permanent legislative fix, these residents who are playing an integral role in our communities are now carrying the burden of an uncertain future, which could mean losing their ability to work lawfully, being separated from their loved ones, and ultimately being deported from the communities where they have families and deep roots; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Seattle will protect and promote policies of inclusion for all its residents, regardless of their immigration status; and joins a nationwide effort in pursuit of a permanent legislative solution that restores certainty and protection for Dreamers and deeply-rooted community residents like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2019, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)