“I am thrilled that Baltimore is taking the leadership in Maryland to support comprehensive immigration reform,” she added. Not only did Spector support the pro-reform resolution, but she also plans to raise immigration reform as a priority issue at next week’s Maryland Association of Counties conference, urging other local governments across Maryland to join Baltimore in issuing similar statements. Why all the commotion at a time when Washington is dragging its feet? Simple: in recent years, immigrant communities in Baltimore and beyond have been victims of misguided immigration raids, workplace exploitation, and a climate of increased hostility toward immigrants. This has increased fear and decreased trust among residents. Local communities and law enforcement agencies are left stranded by the federal government, whose broken immigration laws helped to create the current illegal immigration crisis, but whose leadership has yet to enact a real solution to it. At CASA de Maryland, the largest statewide immigrant rights organization, we have seen this struggle play out first-hand, and we can tell you that the time for real reform is long past due. We praise the members of the City Council for their leadership on this issue. Nicolas Ramos, Chair of the Baltimore City Hispanic Commission, had this to say of the resolution: “We all want to find a workable, common sense solution to our immigration crisis. Baltimore is sending a very clear message to the rest of the state. Having this resolution is the right way of doing it. We are optimistic that this call to Washington will be repeated across Maryland. Comprehensive Immigration Reform is the only way that we will be able to move forward this chapter of our national history.” The resolution passed unanimously at yesterday's City Council Meeting, and it truly ups the ante on immigration.
It stands as a clear sign to Washington that it's time to step up to the plate and drive the ship on immigration. President Obama promised to make an immigration overhaul a top priority in his first year in office, back on the campaign trail. The Obama Administration has repeatedly affirmed that immigration reform will move forward this year. Key leadership in the House and Senate say they've got the votes.
The message coming from Baltimore today is clear: the time for reform is most certainly now. ---
Note: Author Mario Quiroz is a Communications Specialist at CASA de Maryland. Cross-posted at America's Voice and The Sanctuary.
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