Resolution Supporting that California Become a Sanctuary State and Condemning the Raids

Authored and Sponsored by Senator Dimitri García
PASSED by the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) of UC-Berkeley on March 21, 2007

WHEREAS, the massive and historic demonstrations of last spring show that millions of people will oppose attempts to harass and scapegoat immigrant and Latina/o communities, and also oppose attempts to create a climate of increased repression and denial of civil liberties in our communities; and

WHEREAS, cities across the nation, including Berkeley and San Francisco, have declared themselves "sanctuary cities" or "cities of refuge," in support of immigrant community members, in which city officials are prohibited from "assisting or cooperating with any Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, detention, or arrest procedures relating to federal immigration law or in relation to benefits, services or opportunities provided by the city any question regarding immigration status"; and

WHEREAS, California is the country's largest and wealthiest economic force, whose gross State product ranks among the world's top seven countries' gross domestic products. California directly benefits from the immigration of people from all over the world; and

WHEREAS, California is among the most diverse and multi-cultural states in the nation, and immigration has been central to enriching California's social, political, and cultural landscape. Immigrants have been critical in contributing toward and defining California and our future; and

WHEREAS, when federal legislation to criminalize undocumented immigrants and supporters was proposed in 2006 (HR 4437), that legislation was defeated with swift and historically massive demonstrations, protests, marches, and walk-outs, that succeeded in asserting the movement for dignity, equality and civil rights for immigrants; and

WHEREAS, over the past several months, kidnappings and attacks, known as "Operation Return to Sender," are targeting millions of people, allegedly for their immigration status, as a further attempt to criminalize immigrants in continuation of the intent of HR 4437; and

WHEREAS, these raids attack hardworking people, denying them the opportunity to support their families here and abroad, whom this State relies upon and benefits from; and

WHEREAS, these raids overwhelmingly target Latina/o communities, such as those conducted in the Bay Area in the past several weeks, and reveal a racist intent to not only criminalize immigrants, but to also terrorize and harass Latino communities and perpetuate second-class treatment;

Therefore Be It Resolved That:

1. The ASUC joins with the City of Berkeley, civil rights and immigrant rights groups and condemns the recent bout of raids.

2. The ASUC supports that California be declared a "sanctuary state," in the tradition of the City of Berkeley, San Francisco, and numerous other cities across the nation.

3. An official from the ASUC will write State officials with a copy of this bill and inform them of our position.