HomeMy Public PortalAbout2009.075 (05-06-09)RESOLUTION NO. 2009.075
(~ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD TO
PRESIDENT OBAMA, SENATORS BOXER AND FEINSTEIN, AND OUR LOCAL
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE
OF AND TO URGE THE OTHER CONGRESSPERSONS AND SENATORS TO VOTE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS ACT-
THE DREAM ACT- WHICH PERMITS STATES TO DETERMINE RESIDENCY FOR
CERTAIN IMMIGRANT YOUTHS WHO ARE COLLEGE BOUND AND HAVE BEEN
LONG TERM UNITED STATES RESIDENTS FOR PURPOSES OF HIGHER
EDUCATION WITHOUT REGARD TO IMMIGRATION STATUS
WHEREAS, each year 65,000 undocumented students, who have lived in the
United Sates for over five years, graduate from American high schools; and
WHEREAS, these students face overwhelming obstacles in accessing higher
education due to their immigration status, which makes them ineligible for federal
financial aid and requires those attending state universities to pay out-of-state tuition,
despite their long term residency within our country; and
WHEREAS, there are many of these children from Lynwood and surrounding
communities in our public schools, and many of them drop out of high school and are
discouraged from studying because they see no value in pursuing higher education
because of their immigration status; and
WHEREAS, these children came to the United States due to their parents'
actions and did not take part in any decision to circumvent the immigration laws of this
country; and
WHEREAS, most of these children, having been raised and educated in the
United States, view themselves as "Americans" and have the same dreams, goals and
aspirations as other American children; and
WHEREAS, undocumented immigrants make vital contributions to the economic
stability and cultural richness of the United States, yet remain vulnerable to exploitation,
victimization, and stigmatization as long as they are denied legal immigration status and
meaningful access to higher education; and
WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has determined that every state
has a constitutional obligation to provide free public primary and secondary education to
all children residing within their borders regardless of their immigration status; and
WHEREAS, Federal standards and accountability requirements imposed on
elementary and secondary education institutions necessarily entail a federal
commitment to education, including the assurance of meaningful access toy,higher
education: and
WHEREAS, California, on average, invests upward of $7,000 each year for each
of its public school students; and
WHEREAS, a high school diploma and the lack of legal immigration status often
condemn undocumented students to a life of underemployment, instability and
unfulfilled potential; and
WHEREAS, access to higher education will allow these students to break the
bonds of poverty, to raise the level of esteem in which they are held by our society, and
to make full contribution to our country's civic, political and economic well-being; and
WHEREAS, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors -the
DREAM Act, would remedy this situation by allowing undocumented students who have
lived in the United States for at least five years and have graduated high school or
received a graduate equivalency diploma (GED) to legalize their immigration status,
thereby making them eligible for Federal financial aid, and allow states to consider
these students as state residents for tuition purposes at state universities.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD DOES
HEREBY FIND, PROCLAIM, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City of Lynwood fully supports the passage of the DREAM
Act.
Section 2. That the City of Lynwood urges the President of the United States
to make passage of the DREAM Act one of his top legislative priorities once the
stimulus package has been enacted.
Section 3. That the City of Lynwood urges California's Senators, and our local
members of the House of Representatives to vote for and encourage other
Congresspersons and Senators to vote for the passage of the DREAM ACT.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 6th day of May, 2009.
ATTEST:
i _
Maria Quinonez, City CI
~ ~~Cl~~
Maria T. Santillan, Mayor
Roger L. Hale ity Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
~~~~~
Fred Galante, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
SS.
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
Deborah L. Ja k on, Director
Neighborhood rvices
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
Lynwood at a regular meeting held on the 6th day of May, 2009.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS FLORES, MORTON, RODRIGUEZ, CASTRO,
AND SANTILLAN
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
~ ABSTAIN: NONE
Maria Quinonez, ity Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, and the Clerk of the City
Council of said City, do hereby certify that the above foregoing is a full, true and correct
copy of Resolution No. 2009.075 on file in my office and that said Resolution was
adopted on the date and by the vote therein stated. Dated this 6th day of May, 2009.
~---
~ aria Quinonez, City Clerk