Fiscal Note
This resolution would appropriate $30,000 from the Contingent Reserve to the Community Development Division to support a contract with Centro Hispano to coordinate free community immigration clinics to assist immigrants applying for the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The 2015 Adopted Operating Budget includes a $1.2 million Contingent Reserve. If approved, the uncommitted balance of the 2015 reserve is reduced to $1,163,000.
The budget will be amended as follows:
($30,000) 110020-56620 Reduce Contingent Reserve
$30,000 62443-54820 Increase CDD Community Agency Contracts Expense
Title
Coordinating free community legal clinics to assist applicants for Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) based on President Obama's November 20, 2014, Executive Actions and amending the 2015 Adopted Operating Budget to appropriate funds from the Contingent Reserve to the Community Development Division for a contract for services.
Body
WHEREAS, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, in 2013, there were 11.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States; and
WHEREAS, there are over five million children under the age of 18 who have one or more undocumented parents living in the United States and 80% of these are U.S. citizens and the remaining are legal permanent residents or young people brought to this nation as children; and
WHEREAS, we recognize and uphold the right to be raised with the love and support of a unified family as a fundamental human right, without the constant fear that that family will be taken from you, without which right these five million young people are denied the human rights, dignity and equal protection under the law afforded their peers; and
WHEREAS, on November 20, 2014, President Obama took executive action to create a new program of deferrals from deportation for approximately 4 million undocumented parents of American citizens or legal permanent residents who have been in the country for at least five years (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans or DAPA); deferrals would include authorization to work and would be granted for three years at a time; and
WHEREAS, this executive action would also expand a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allows young people who were brought into the country as children to apply for deportation deferrals and work permits; this expansion would extend eligibility to people who entered the United States as children before January 2010 (the cutoff is currently June 15, 2007) and would increase the deferral period to three years from two years and eliminate the requirement that the applicants be under 31 years old; and
WHEREAS, these changes are expected to affect the status of four million to five million unauthorized immigrants in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Madison is home to a large number of undocumented immigrants from all parts of the world; and
WHEREAS, these individuals and families who have made their lives here but are yet to be fully recognized will need assistance to apply for these deferrals; and
WHEREAS, Madison's Centro Hispano is planning to hire a coordinator to assist with the efforts of a local coalition in organizing free legal clinics; and
WHEREAS, Centro Hispano needs financial assistance in this effort to coordinate free community legal clinics for DAPA and DACA applicants;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison amend the 2015 Adopted Operating Budget to appropriate $30,000 from the Contingent Reserve to the Community Development Division to enter into a contract with Centro Hispano to coordinate free community legal clinics for DAPA and DACA applicants in 2015.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign this contract with Centro Hispano.