Earlier in January the executive action taken by President Obama with regard to immigration reform became the subject of a legal challenge launched by 12 states. A different campaign – one that supports the president’s decision – has now been organized by a group of big city mayors.
The Los Angeles mayor, Eric Garcetti, and the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, have gathered together a group of more than 30 mayors from big cities, the US Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, to launch their own amicus brief on Obama’s behalf. A statement from de Blasio’s office expressed that the “public interest across the country is served clearly and overwhelmingly by implementing immigration reform by executive action.”
Bill de Blasio says that it is urgent for the group to do what they are doing to ensure that there is no delay in the president’s executive action and to prevent more damage to communities, families and the economy. “Cities are where immigrants live, and cities are where the president’s executive action will be successfully executed. We are organized, and we will fight for the changes this nation needs and deserves, and fight those who oppose immigration reform, be it in the courtroom, in Congress or in our communities,” he explained.
Mayors participating in the scheme include those from Atlanta, Buffalo, Denver, Philadelphia, Houston, Baltimore, Chicago and Newark. Ralph Becker, the mayor of Salt Lake City, says that Obama’s efforts need to be supported to mend the nation’s broken immigration system.