The Baltimore City Council on Monday approved a nonbinding resolution supporting passage of comprehensive immigration reform and opposing enforcement-only immigration legislation.
Introduced by Council Member James Kraft, D-District 1, and co-sponsored by Council President Sheila Dixon, the resolution ? which passed 14-0 with one abstention ? is largely symbolic, but was spurred, Kraft said, by recent rallies for immigration rights protesting the passage of U.S. House Bill 4437. That legislation would make it a felony to be in the country illegally and would penalize social workers, doctors, clergy and others who aid illegal immigrants. The resolution states that it is “for the purpose of supporting comprehensive immigration reform that would correct the failings of our immigration system by assisting the undocumented families living in our country and contributing to our economy ? .”
The bill recognizes the growing Hispanic and African populations in the city and their importance to the local economy, and aims to “remove barriers that make it difficult for immigrants to access vital local services and to actively participate in civic actives.”
Kraft is opposed to full amnesty for illegal immigrants, but supports a path to citizenship for those in the country already. He said immediately sending home all undocumented residents would break up many familiesin his district. He added that he has seen firsthand the exploitation of local undocumented workers. “The day laborers ? at Broadway and Lombard ? have a lot of problems,” Kraft said. “They get picked up and are promised wages, but are lied to and charged a dollar an hour to rent the equipment they use. Sometimes, they?re fired if they complain and have no way of getting home from a job 25 or 30 miles away.”
Casa de Maryland, a Hispanic advocacy organization with offices in Baltimore, is organizing a May 1 rally from 5 to 8 p.m. in Patterson Park, coinciding with marches and rallies in other cities that day, and Kraft wanted the resolution to pass in time to show support for the immigrants? campaign. Casa and others will provide information at the rally on voter registration, citizenship, English classes, access to social services and education on the current status of legislation before Congress.
“I think the resolution would be very helpful,” said Rev. John Wojtek of St. Michael?s and St. Patrick?s churches in Fells Point. “I think it would show the federal government and the state that there is support for this kind of legislation.”
