Mayors de Blasio and Garcetti Announce Legal Action in Support of Immigration Reforms

Press Release

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced today that 73 cities and counties had filed a new friend-of-the-court brief in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Texas vs. United States lawsuit, urging immediate implementation of President Obama's executive actions on immigration.

"Continuing to delay implementation of the President's executive action on immigration hurts our economy and puts families at risk," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Cities are where immigrants live, and cities are where the President's executive action will be successfully implemented. Our cities are united, and we will fight for the immigration reform this nation needs and deserves -- whether in the courtroom, in Congress, or in our communities. Make no mistake about it: our voices will be heard."

"Our cities cannot afford delays to immigration reforms that will strengthen our economy and help families," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "This isn't a blue or red issue, but a human and economic one."

The brief demonstrates robust support from the country's largest cities -- as well as suburbs and rural areas -- for the President's reforms, which will temporarily relieve from deportation thousands of immigrants who have longstanding ties to the U.S.

The cities and counties -- representing 43 million people across the country -- argue that the district court judge who temporarily blocked implementation of the programs failed to consider the significant harm to America's local governments caused by this delay.

According to an analysis by the City, each month that the implementation of these programs is delayed, New York City and New York State will lose at least $1.5 million in additional state and local tax revenue that would be generated if 100,000 immigrants in New York City were able to access temporary work permits through executive action.

"New York's immigrants are vital to our economy and we must do all we can to help them grow and thrive. Mayor de Blasio is correct -- instead of putting up barriers, we should be looking at ways to help immigrants climb the ladder of economic opportunity and welcome them into our communities. The New York State Assembly Majority strongly supports President Obama's executive action on immigration, and further delay by those who would derail this important initiative is unacceptable," said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

"Each day we wait to implement President Obama's bold immigration reforms, millions of hard-working families remain in legal limbo. Immigrant communities built New York City, and they are the heart and soul of urban centers across our country," said Public Advocate Letitia James. "As Congress and federal courts stall meaningful progress on immigration, New York City will continue to lead the nation."

As part of Cities United for Immigration Action, Mayors de Blasio and Garcetti led the effort to organize more than 70 cities and counties, the National League of Cities, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in arguing that the national public interest is served clearly and overwhelmingly by implementing immigration relief by executive action without delay. Today's brief more than doubles the number of local governments that had previously voiced opposition to the lawsuit brought by states seeking to block President Obama's immigration reform efforts.

The brief also argues that the District Court judge's decision to block executive action with a preliminary injunction is bad for the economy, hurts families, threatens law enforcement priorities, and will stall desperately needed changes to the federal government's immigration policies.

The de Blasio Administration has a proven track record of spearheading initiatives that integrate immigrants into the civic and economic life of New York City. From the IDNYC municipal identification program to increasing access to federal immigration benefits, New York City is committed to championing pro-immigrant policies that promote equity and create opportunity for all residents.

This collective action to offer the Court the crucial perspective of American cities and counties is an outcome of the organizing efforts of the Cities United for Immigration Action coalition. By filing this brief, America's mayors and county leaders are making a strong statement in support of the President's plan to grant administrative relief to over four million undocumented children and adults.

Numerous cities and counties signed on to today's brief are located in states that brought the lawsuit against the Obama administration or have otherwise indicated support for the lawsuit, including five cities in Texas, six localities in New Jersey, two counties in Arizona, and three municipalities in Wisconsin.

"Brooklyn is what America looks like, with nearly 40 percent of our residents being foreign-born, and when it comes to embracing our immigrant population, it is what America ought to be. President Obama's executive order on immigration is the most significant and meaningful step our nation has taken toward addressing this long-standing crisis and the millions of families who have been stuck in the shadows of our society, including hundreds of thousands right here in New York City. Our diversity is our greatest strength, and I join my fellow urban leaders from coast to coast in making this call to support the President's reforms," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

"Legally and morally, the president's executive action on immigration was both within his power and the right thing to do," said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer. "Blocking its implementation will do real harm to cities. That's why joining with other cities and counties across the country urging its implementation is the right thing as well."

"We stand with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's decision to file a "friend-of-the-court' brief in support of President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "The President's executive action currently being blocked in the courts hurts The Bronx and New York City, with the borough losing out on potential local tax revenues that would be generated by these hard-working immigrants who just want to come out the shadows and positively contribute to our country. We are the land of opportunity, built on the ideal that we are melting pot that promotes equality for all and we must continue to strive for those ideals that make our country great."

"President Obama's executive actions were bold and decisive steps toward fixing America's broken immigration system. The Statue of Liberty stands tall in our City, reminding us that America was built by generations of immigrants who came to its shores in search of a better life and a chance to make our country greater," said U.S. Representative Charles Rangel. "I am proud to see that Mayor de Blasio is committed to keeping that promise alive for years to come."

"The delay in the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA threatens millions of American families with deportation, as well as the many communities, such as New York City, of which immigrants are an integral part," said U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke. "No serious doubt exists that President Obama had the authority to establish DAPA and DACA. I want to commend Mayor de Blasio and the many community leaders across this nation who have raised their voices on behalf of millions of families who want to pursue the American Dream."

"In the absence of legislative action by House Republicans, President Obama took decisive action on immigration because he knows that there are real lives at stake in our current broken system," said U.S. Representative Joe Crowley. "It is deeply troubling that a Texas judge known to be hostile to immigrants is delaying the President's executive measures, especially given the legal precedents set by previous administrations. Halting action that will help keep American families together strikes at the heart of what our country ought to be about, and I thank Mayors de Blasio, Garcetti, and many others for taking a stand and showing the widespread support for the President's action. I'm confident the Department of Justice will succeed in its appeal of this decision and that we will move forward with this much-needed action that will make such a difference in New York City and elsewhere."

"I applaud Mayor de Blasio for working with cities across the nation to support President Obama's executive actions on immigration," said U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney. "With over 12 million undocumented immigrants living in our country, comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue. Unfortunately, Congress has failed to act. That is why I strongly support President Obama's executive actions, which will help keep families together, boost our economy and generate new tax revenue. These are common sense steps that mimic similar actions by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, and it's long past time that President Obama's reforms are implemented."

"We can't continue to delay implementing President Obama's executive action on immigration. With this friend-of-the-court brief, New York City is joined by more than 70 cities nationwide in voicing its strong support for moving ahead with providing administrative deportation relief to more than 4 million immigrants with strong ties to the U.S. As the brief argues, the District Court's holdup only hurts our economy, harmless immigrant families, and the federal government's ability to address our broken immigration system. I applaud Mayor de Blasio for once again putting New York City at the forefront of efforts to help the immigrant community, in New York City, and nationwide," said U.S. Representative José Serrano, Sr.

"The President's immigration reforms make badly needed changes to a broken system and will benefit thousands of our neighbors," stated U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez. "It is critical for New York City and our nation as a whole that these reforms be implemented without delay."

"Every day we delay fixing our broken immigration system is a missed opportunity," said U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice. "There's no question that we need to keep fighting for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level, but our local communities can't afford to wait when there's no sign that this Congress is willing to pass real legislative solutions. Thousands of hard-working Long Island families are ready to come out of the shadows, stop living in fear and start participating fully in our local economies, and there's no reason to deny them that opportunity any longer. Last week I joined several fellow Members of Congress in signing an amicus brief affirming our support for the government's appeal, and the brief filed today by Mayors de Blasio and Garcetti shows that local and federal leaders across the country are united in our commitment to implementing the President's executive actions."

"Immigrants move New York's economy forward," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "I represent a district where over a third of its population is foreign-born, and where many more are the children and grandchildren of the rich immigrant legacy this city -- and this nation -- is so proud of. Immigrants are innovators, business owners and job creators: they augment this City's supply of capital and ideas to diversify its narrative and keep it nationally and globally competitive. Not only is it in our best interest to immediately implement the President's platform for immigration reform, but it is the socially and morally responsible thing to do."

"Every day the President's executive actions on immigration are blocked, is another day hundreds of thousands of young adults and parents, trying to provide for their families, are unable to work. This is not good for anyone, and the leaders of our cities and counties across the country know this first hand. I thank them for standing with undocumented immigrants and working to bring them out of the shadows," said State Senator Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the State Senate Puerto Rican/Latino Caucus.

"This friend-of-the-court brief stands with immigrants in our communities against needless delay in the urgently needed Deferred Action programs. President Obama has charted a course for a more compassionate immigration system -- a system that treats our friends and neighbors with the dignity they deserve. I commend this action by Mayor de Blasio and dozens of mayors across the United States in keeping with the vision President Obama outlined. I join these mayors and leaders across the country in reaffirming our commitment to America's longstanding tradition of welcoming immigrants to our communities," said State Senator Jesse Hamilton.

"It is time to stop intolerant views toward our immigrants. I am in full support of this brief, which is intended to safeguard and implement President Obama's executive actions on immigration that are intended to keep families together," said State Senator Jose Peralta. "We, as immigrants, live in all cities across our nation, and blocking the implementation of the President's policies, hurts not just families fighting for the American Dream, but also our ongoing efforts to enrich and repair our economy."

"I am very proud that New York City is leading the way on a collective amicus brief in the Texas vs. United States case which calls for swift and sweeping implementation of President Obama's executive actions concerning rational immigration policy. The lives of millions of people hang in the balance, so many of them New Yorkers who share the same hopes, dreams and aspirations that each successive wave of immigrants harbored generations ago. Each of them found a true home here and it is time for our City and Country to open our arms and our hearts in the name of fundamental human rights," said State Senator Bill Perkins.

"The implementation of President Obama's executive action on immigration is imperative to ensuring we support the countless immigrants that contribute to the social and economic life of our country," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. "We are a country of immigrants, and this executive action will help us strengthen and protect our diverse population, while honoring our values as Americans. I commend and thank Mayor de Blasio for having New York join cities and counties across our country in taking legal action to support an initial step towards immigration reform."

"Here in a city and state where we pride ourselves on diversity, we can only benefit from the implementation of President Obama's executive action on immigration," said State Senator James Sanders Jr. "It will allow for a reprieve from deportation while giving the undocumented a chance to work, providing a much needed boost to the economy. Just this past week, the state budget failed to include the DREAM Act, which would have given thousands of vibrant young people a chance at success by allowing them to continue their education and creating a pathway to citizenship. Let's not miss another opportunity to help build a stronger New York."

"Unjust deportations have continued to tear apart our families, our schools and our communities. We must act swiftly in implementing President Obama's immigration executive action in order to protect these important populations. Immigrants are the backbone of our communities, and I thank Mayors de Blasio and Garcetti for creating a united front to demonstrate our support for the swift implementation of the President's measures," said State Senator José Serrano.

"The delay to President Obama's executive action on immigration is intolerable and comes with a real cost to real people," said Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte. "Every day, families of aspiring Americans are destroyed by a system badly in need of reform and the President's executive action offers needed help. I join with Mayor de Blasio and Eric Garcetti in the Texas v. United States lawsuit to urge immediate implementation of President Obama's executive actions on immigration. As a daughter of Haitian immigrants, and as a proud citizen of the United States and elected official of New York, I have a duty to act on behalf of the social justice of our people--as well as a fiduciary responsibility to ensure our economies gain the benefits immigration brings."

"As a child of Jamaican immigrants, it is personal for me that we stand up for Immigration justice and demand immediate action. The implementation of President Obama's executive actions on immigration is a moral, social, and economic necessity. The delays are inexcusable, and we must move forward. In past years, immigrants in NYC have accounted for more than $200 billion in economic activity to help revitalize vibrant neighborhoods including the work of Latino, Caribbean and African entrepreneurs in the South Bronx. Through hard work and tireless dedication, Immigrants embody the entrepreneurial spirit that makes our country so beautiful, and the best country in the world," said Assembly Member Michael Blake. "Immigrants are our neighbors, our friends, and our family, and I proudly stand with Mayor Bill de Blasio and Eric Garcetti in calling for our judicial system to do the right thing, the humane thing, the compassionate thing, and give our communities the life they deserve."

"I want to commend Mayor de Blasio and all the other mayors for supporting immigration reforms. Implementation of the President's Immigration Executive action will provide much needed relief to immigrant families suffering under our broken system and is a crucial first step on the road to treating our immigrants with the fairness and respect they deserve," said Assembly Member Guillermo Linares.

"Every month that goes by without President Obama's executive actions is another month that families can be ripped apart," said Assembly Member Francisco Moya. "For those of us who deal with the fallout from our nation's flawed immigration policies on a daily basis, we know how critical the President's executive actions truly are. Keeping families together is not only the right thing to do; it's also in our nation's best interest."

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