While recognizing that the solution to immigration reform and the future of Dreamers are federal policies, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, nevertheless last week, unanimously urged the U.S. Congress to find solutions for the benefit of millions of citizens — current and future.
Supervisors Manual Perez (5th District) and Marion Ashley (4th District) offered the resolution for the board’s approval urging “… our federal representatives to support a legislative solution to DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] that offers opportunities for Dreamers to stay in this country and, ultimately, offers opportunities to those who wish to enhance their ability to contribute to our community and country by becoming citizens of our great nation. May it be further resolved, that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors also reiterate the need for comprehensive and non-discriminatory immigration reform.”
Although immigration is a federal policy, Perez pointed out that Riverside County has “a vibrant immigrant population which helps our economy and more than 13,000 young people who are DACA recipients.”
Ashley emphasized the board is not taking a specific position but it seeks a congressional resolution to this major federal policy issue.
“All we’re saying is Congress come together with a solution that addresses this issue — a compromise … just telling Congress to figure this out for the benefit of the American people,” he said
During the discussion, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries (1st District) noted that Riverside County supervisors “… will have little to no impact on this issue,” but agreed that urging action was a worthwhile step.
He did recommend the addition of language after “immigration reform,” which said, “… enhanced border security, improved employment screening, and deporting of non-citizen felons upon release.”
While Ashley felt the last item was unnecessary because it is currently the law, he agreed to accept it. The motion to approve the resolution was unanimous, 5-0.
Before the vote, more than 20 speakers came to the dais to express their opinions both for and against the resolution.
