Unanimous Baltimore City Council Support for Immigration Reform

August 11, 3:45 PMBaltimore Hispanic Business ExaminerElianne Ramos

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Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, President of Baltimore City Council.

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As of approximately 7 p.m. Monday night, Latinos in the Baltimore area have much to celebrate. At that time, in a bold, unprecedented action, the Baltimore City Council gave unanimous approval to the motion to support President Obama’s proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The motion, originated by Councilwoman Spector, is the first step in the road to the ultimate goal: obtaining congressional approval of this legislation.

For months, members of the Baltimore City's Commission of Hispanic Affairs, the Latino Providers Network, Casa de Maryland, Centro de la Comunidad, Education-Based Latino Outreach, the Hispanic Business Association, the Center for Community Change  and other community organizations have been lobbying with elected officials in order to gain the support of the local City Council.

Jessica Contreras, Hispanic Liaison to Mayor Sheila Dixon’s Office, believes this is a major step that will give the Latino population a renewed confidence in the city’s government. “Last year there were some [immigration] raids in the area that affected many local families. Many people in the community were afraid to even go outside,” she explained, adding that “this resolution will, at least, give a verbal support to the community and help to curb that fear. That is the biggest benefit. It’s very important that the city’s residents know that the people who represent them are there to support them.” According to Ms. Contreras, Mayor Sheila Dixon is expected to formally present her support for the resolution today. “Mayor Dixon supports the immigrant community of the city,” she said. “Our office understands that the city is growing thanks to the contributions of the immigrant population.”

Nicolás Ramos, Chair of the Baltimore City’s Commission of Hispanic Affairs, also expressed the significance of this approval. “We are very proud of that our city is being a model for other cities in the country. There hasn’t been an Amnesty program for about 20 years now, so it’s very important that the thousands of immigrants in the city and the millions in the whole country have the opportunity to obtain licenses, to pay their taxes and to work legally.”

Comprehensive immigration legislation, which would include a plan to make legal status possible for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, is a priority for this administration and more importantly, for the Latino community around the country. As of right now, one in twenty workers in the U.S. workforce is the victim of employers who ignore labor rights and seek unfair advantage over competitors by not paying workers minimum wage. Once undocumented workers join the system, they will be able to come out of the shadows, to stand up for their rights and unionize, thereby helping to ensure that the labor market is a level playing field.

Nelson A. Ortega, Executive Director of Centro de la Communidad and also a member of the Commission of Hispanic Affairs, believes that “even if this a local move, this is a clear signal of the possibilities. Immigration reform will happen. It just won’t happen overnight. There will be some fighting to do, but this is the beginning,” he says, adding: “With the exception of Native Americans, everyone in this country is an immigrant. The United States has given every immigrant group an opportunity and the new groups that have arrived need an opportunity too.”

With the approval of this resolution, Baltimore –as a city that celebrates the diversity and contributions of immigrants — is setting a precedent for other cities in the United States and sending a clear and direct message to Congress: Comprehensive Immigration Reform is needed and it needs to happen PRONTO.