(A) The Council declares Albuquerque to be an immigrant-friendly City. The Council welcomes and encourages immigrants to live, work, and study in Albuquerque and to participate in community affairs, and recognizes immigrants for their important contributions to our culture and economy.
(B) The Council establishes the following policies for the City of Albuquerque:
(1) To the fullest extent allowed by federal and state law, immigrants who live within the City limits of Albuquerque and their families shall have access to all City services and programs.
(2) The City encourages all public agencies to facilitate the access of immigrants and their families to basic services, including but not limited to legal driver's licenses, health care, and education, including Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute and the University of New Mexico, to the fullest extent allowable by law.
(3) The City will include in its legislative agenda requests that Congress enact just and humane immigration reforms that provide immigrants and their families with rights in this country that are commensurate with human dignity and their status as taxpayers and contributing members of our community, and that the State of New Mexico Legislature revise its laws and policies for health care, education, and drivers' licenses to such that immigrants and their families will have fair access to those services and privileges.
(4) The City shall not discriminate on the basis of a person's national origin and will treat all persons with respect and dignity, regardless of immigration status. The Human Rights Commission shall oversee the implementation of this policy.
(5) No municipal resources shall be used to identify individuals' immigration status or apprehend persons on the sole basis of immigration status, unless otherwise required by law to do so.
(C) Each City department shall develop operational procedures consistent with the policies set out in this section.
(D) An Immigrant Resource Program is established, to provide information and referral in the areas of English as a Second Language education, citizenship classes, housing, health care, secondary vocational and higher education and other areas. The Administration will recommend to the Council whether this program should be administered by a City department or by contract.
(Res. 9-2001, approved 1-11-01)