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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA�S EXECUTIVE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION TO EXPAND DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS AND IMPLEMENT DEFERRED ACTION FOR PARENTS OF AMERICANS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS; AND URGING FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL PAM BONDI TO WITHDRAW THE STATE OF FLORIDA FROM TEXAS V. UNITED STATES

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WHEREAS, many of Florida�s prosperous industries, including its agricultural, tourism, and construction industries, greatly benefit from and heavily depend on entrepreneurial work and labor of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County exemplifies the value of diversity, as demonstrated by the social, cultural, and economic contributions of our immigrant community; and
WHEREAS, on November 20, 2014, President Barack Obama announced a series of executive actions on immigration, which included an expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and an implementation of Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA); and
WHEREAS, expanded DACA would allow undocumented people of any age who entered the United States before the age of 16 and have lived in the United States continuously since January 1, 2010 to obtain a work permit and remain in the United States for three years; and
WHEREAS, DAPA would allow parents of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who have lived in the United States continuously since January 1, 2010 and who pass required background checks to obtain a work permit and remain in the United States for three years; and
WHEREAS, an estimated five million people in the United States will directly benefit from DAPA and expanded DACA, according to the United States Department of Homeland Security; and
WHEREAS, approximately 250,000 undocumented Floridians are eligible for DAPA and expanded DACA, according to the Immigration Policy Center; and
WHEREAS, if these eligible immigrants receive work permits and driver�s licenses, it would expand their earning potential and lead to over $102 million in increased tax revenues in Florida over a five-year period, according to the Center for American Progress; and
WHEREAS, this increase in tax revenue, as well as the savings from avoiding costly detention and deportations, will significantly strengthen our state and local economies; and
WHEREAS, DAPA and expanded DACA would also decrease the rising number of displaced families due to deportation; and
WHEREAS, in the case Texas v. United States, 26 states, including the State of Florida, are seeking to enjoin the implementation of DAPA; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2015, a federal judge temporarily enjoined the implementation of DAPA and expansion of DACA; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2015, the United States filed an emergency stay of Texas v. United States, pending its appeal of the temporary injunction; and
WHEREAS, the United States� emergency stay was denied, allowing the case to move forward; and
WHEREAS, this Board urges Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to withdraw the State of Florida from Texas v. United States, and expresses its support for President Obama�s executive action on immigration through DAPA and expanded DACA, as it would be extremely beneficial to Florida�s families and economy,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Supports President Barack Obama�s executive action on immigration to expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and implement Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents.
Section 2. Urges Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to withdraw the State of Florida from Texas v. United States.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama, United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Leon Rodriguez, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Miami-Dade County Congressional Delegation, and the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 4. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Section 1, directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Section 2, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2015 Federal and State Legislative Packages to include this item, and to include this item in the 2016 Federal and State Legislative Packages when it is presented to the Board.