By: Garza, Pena, Torres, Margo, Aliseda, H.C.R. No. 88

et al.

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Our nation's immigration system is inefficient and badly flawed, and a complete overhaul is urgently needed to protect our borders and ensure our future economic prosperity; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress last passed major immigration legislation a quarter-century ago; the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 failed to solve the problem of illegal immigration, and subsequent piecemeal attempts at reform have failed to create a rational and effective system; and

WHEREAS, Current immigration channels are rigid and cumbersome, and as a consequence, smugglers enjoy a thriving market that puts great pressure on our borders; not only do too many people enter the country illegally, but there is no way to track whether the millions who enter on valid visas actually depart when those visas expire; moreover, employers are burdened by a complicated and inflexible system for verifying the immigration status of potential employees, and unscrupulous employers who recruit and exploit undocumented workers have little fear of punishment; immigration enforcement often targets ordinary workers and their families, diverting resources and personnel from efforts to protect against genuine threats to national security; and

WHEREAS, Today, the U.S. economy is inextricably linked to the global economy, and globalization has increased the importance of labor mobility; businesses need to be able to plan for growth as world economic conditions improve, but obsolete immigration policies make it difficult to prepare to compete in the global marketplace; furthermore, while the American workforce has become older and better educated, industries such as agriculture continue to require large numbers of workers able and willing to perform physically demanding jobs; and

WHEREAS, Two recent studies, by the Cato Institute and the Center for American Progress with the Immigration Policy Center, indicate that a complete overhaul of our system of immigration would boost the economy by $180 billion or more annually by raising the productivity of immigrant workers and expanding activity throughout the economy; and

WHEREAS, A true 21st-century immigration system would focus on both the border and the workplace, establishing smart enforcement policies and safeguards while creating legal immigration channels that are flexible and serve our economic interests; a complete overhaul should address the terms and conditions of admission to and presence in this country, promote the use of reliable and verifiable forms of worker identification, and eliminate country of origin preferences; the violation of immigration laws should be disincentivized, and employers and prospective immigrants who have followed laws and procedures should be rewarded; in addition, this overhaul must protect the rights and equality of all United States citizens, including children; and

WHEREAS, Our national interests are poorly served by our broken, embattled, and outdated immigration system, and patchwork attempts to mend its deficiencies will not secure our borders or prepare us to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex global economy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby urge the United States Congress to swiftly enact a complete overhaul of our system of immigration that promotes our economic prosperity and national security; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.