* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
The Promotion of Community Safety and Trust Between Baltimore City Residents and Local Law Enforcement Agencies
FOR the purpose of expressing opposition to the Secure Communities Initiative and urging the Maryland Delegation to the 112th Congress to call for a suspension of the program pending a complete Congressional review.
body
Recitals
The City of Baltimore has long been home to immigrants from around the world, who come here seeking freedom from religious and political persecution, an opportunity for financial stability, and a better future for their families. The City Council of Baltimore believes in the dignity of all of its residents and recognizes the important social, religious, cultural, and economic contributions that immigrants make to the City of Baltimore. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that the newest members of our community are extended the same rights and protections the rest of us seek to preserve and enjoy.
The Secure Communities Initiative is a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program which requires local law enforcement agencies to submit the fingerprints of all arrested individuals to the Department of Homeland Security for verification of an individual's immigration status, regardless of the outcome of their arrest. This Initiative has not been effective in targeting serious criminals -- since its inception in the State of Maryland, 83 percent of all immigrants deported by ICE through this program as of February 2011 have no serious criminal convictions. As of March 31st, 2011, 63 percent have been classified as non-criminals.
The City Council of Baltimore is concerned that participation in the Secure Communities Initiative will create divisions in our communities, promote a culture of fear, and discourage trust between local law enforcement and immigrant communities throughout the City. This trust, along with the open and free communication between citizens and law enforcement that it fosters, is vital to promoting public safety within the City of Baltimore. It is essential that residents throughout the City of Baltimore be allowed to interact with local law enforcement without fear based on actual or perceived race, national origin, ethnicity, or immigration status discrimination.
This Council has an established legislative record that encourages respect for the immigrant members of our community. City Council Resolution 03-0998R, passed in 2003, urges local law enforcement to "refrain from enforcing immigration matters, which are entirely Homeland Security Department's responsibility." City Council Resolution 10-0210R, passed in 2010, opposes "the introduction of anti-immigration law in Maryland that criminalizes immigration and encourages racial profiling."
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body opposes the Secure Communities Initiative and urges the Maryland Delegation to the 112th Congress to call for a suspension of the program pending a complete Congressional review.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable Members of the Maryland Delegation to the 112th Congress, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the 2012 Session of the Maryland General Assembly, the President of the Baltimore Branch of the NAACP, the Baltimore City Hispanic Commission, the Board of Directors of CASA de Maryland, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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