LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to pass, and President Barack H. Obama to sign H.R. 4321: Compre-
hensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to urge President
Barack H. Obama to prioritize immigration reform within his domestic
policy; and
WHEREAS, As the son of an immigrant from Kenya, Africa, and a woman
from Kansas, it is believed that President Barack H. Obama's historical
victory represents a triumph for tolerance and hope, and a powerful
validation of the American Dream; it is also perceived that his voice
reflects the dreams and ideals which inspire immigrants to struggle for
acceptance and a better life every day; and
WHEREAS, The urgency for reform cannot be overstated; over the past
eight years, immigrants and their families, employers and workers alike,
have suffered from our nation's inability to find common ground on the
issue of immigration reform; and
WHEREAS, A variety of state and local immigration enforcement initi-
atives have only served to damage trust among immigrant communities and
law enforcement officials and undermine immigration reform; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that we progress from the failed immigration
policies of the past eight years; the new Administration will be the
first new steward of immigration policy since the immigration functions
of the federal government were subsumed into the Department of Homeland
Security; and
WHEREAS, The reason for President Barack H. Obama's overwhelming
triumph was his addressing of key issues on his campaign trail; many
advocates acknowledged his reforming of immigration policies which
provided support for his election and the various policies he proposed;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, which represents the communities and
families of both immigrant and native-born Americans across New York
State, sincerely congratulates President Barack H. Obama on his victory
as the 44th President of the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass and
to urge President Barack H. Obama to sign H.R. 4321: Comprehensive Immi-
gration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.