Metro Council voted unanimously Tuesday night for Comprehensive Immigration reform

Metro Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to urge Congress to “make meaningful and substantive reform to our immigration policies” this year. While the Council did not vote for a specific version of comprehensive immigration policy and while the Council resolution did not say what they wanted included in a comprehensive immigration policy, the comprehensive immigration bill that recently passed the U.S. Senate includes a path to citizenship for those who are here illegally. Many consider that amnesty.

The House of Representatives is likely to reject the Senate immigration bill. Many in the House do not want "comprehensive" immigration reform.  They want to secure the borders first.  Our Metro Council however wants comprehensive immigration reform. Unanimously means everyone in the Council. That is Robert Duvall, Duane Dominy, Josh Stites and the other conservative members of the Council. I can only assume that is what they really believe since that is the way they voted.  Actually, I believe that way too. I think it is time for comprehensive immigration reform and after the Corker-Hoeven amendment, I think the immigration bill before us should be passed.  I think it beats the alternative of the status quo. However, I am just surprised that not a single council member believes otherwise. Comprehensive Immigration Reform is controversial. There are two sides to the issue. I am just surprised that all forty Council member think alike on a controversial issue that divides the Country and the Congress.

The resolution the Council passes says our current immigration policy does not reflect the fundamental values of  Tennesseans. Below is the text of the bill the Council passed.

RESOLUTION NO. RS2013-760

A resolution urging the 113th Congress of the United States to enact comprehensive immigration reform.

WHEREAS, over the last decade, Tennessee was the state with the third-fastest, and Nashville was the city with the fastest, growth of foreign-born residents in the country; and

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County has a proud history of being a welcoming community where new families, new businesses, and new community institutions are celebrated and valued; and

WHEREAS, Nashville understands that diversity is a cultural strength and immigrants in our community are an engine of economic growth who enrich our civic, social, and cultural life; and

WHEREAS, the current immigration policies of the U.S. government do not reflect our fundamental values as Tennesseans and Americans; and

WHEREAS, the failure of the United States Congress to enact broad immigration reform has had deep and far-reaching impacts on the economic, cultural, and political lives of our communities; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council of Davidson County is calling on the 113th Congress of the United States to make meaningful and substantive reform to our immigration policies in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County will benefit from changes to our immigration policies that allow all new Tennesseans to fully participate and contribute to our communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That this Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as urging the 113th Congress of the United States to enact comprehensive immigration reform in 2013.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Representatives Jim Cooper and Marsha Blackburn, Senator Lamar Alexander, and Senator Bob Corker.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Steve Glover, Fabian Bedne, Megan Barry, Jason Potts, Chris Harmon, Jerry Maynard, Jason Holleman, Burkley Allen, Karen Johnson, Peter Westerholm, Brady Banks, Emily Evans, Frank Harrison, Walter Hunt

Top Stories