WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation founded on the principles that all people are created equal and the promise of freedom for all; and

WHEREAS, Our strength as a country has always been greater when we welcome newcomers; and

WHEREAS, California has the highest number of migrants in the country; and

WHEREAS, It has been nearly 40 years since the federal government passed an immigration reform bill, and our current immigration system is unable to meet the needs of the present day; and

WHEREAS, California is home to nearly 10,000,000 immigrants, the majority of whom have lived in the United States for more than 10 years; and

WHEREAS, Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to California; and

WHEREAS, One in 10 workers in California is an undocumented immigrant, and undocumented immigrants contribute $51.4 billion dollars in state and local taxes; and

WHEREAS, California would benefit from Congress updating immigration law because it has been shown that providing citizenship for undocumented immigrants boosts the economy and increases the job market; and

WHEREAS, In 2023, California congressional leaders introduced the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 (HR 1511 and SB 2606) (Registry bills) that allows undocumented people living continuously in the United States for at least seven years to apply for legal permanent residency, and it is estimated that approximately 8,000,000 undocumented people may benefit from the passage of that bill; and

WHEREAS, Eighty percent of Californians believe there should be a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Immigrant communities continue to organize around passing immigration reform, and later this month, the Northern California Coalition for Just Immigration Reform will undergo a three-day walk from San Jose to San Francisco in support of the Registry bills; and

WHEREAS, Passing immigration reform that recognizes the contributions and humanity of immigrants is in line with our values as a state and as a country; now, therefore, be it