CASCOS TAKES LEAD ON NATIONAL IMMIGRATION DEBATE

By Juan Montoya
With the national spotlight set on possible legislation to reform our immigration policies including the bipartisan eight-senator coalition's recommendations and the push by President Barack Obama to make it a priority of his second term, Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos has pushed through a resolution encouraging immigration reform.
During this morning's meeting of the Cameron County Commissioners Court, he pushed through a resolution supporting the movement toward reform.
Coming on the heels of having at least two women who were immigrants running for their parties' nomination (Republican and Democrat) for the U.S. Congress, the Cascos resolution takes on a decidedly South Texas character.
Cascos, himself a naturalized citizen, has spoken in the past about the hurdles before immigrants to this country. It is a testament to these immigrants, he has said to schoolchildren, that they succeed and become productive citizens and leaders here, in their adopted land of opportunity.
The resolution states that the commissioners court "recognizes the dignity of all its immigrant residents, regardless of immigration status, and appreciates the importance of their many contributions to the social, cultural, and economic life in the Rio Grande Valley through their dreams, traditions, industriousness and helping to build and develop the rich and welcoming character of the Rio Grande Valley.
The resolution continues saying that: "the (court) acknowledges that immigrants make important contributions to the economies and cultures of the United States and Mexico; and according to the Texas State Comptroller, add at least $400 million to the State of Texas' economy each year, thereby playing a vital role in our state and local economies.
"The (court) realizes the failure of our national government's present immigration policies cause great anguish to the county residents who daily experience the tragedy of families divided by ineffective laws designed for the social realities of 100 years ago.
"The (court) has been, and remains, committed to the protection of civil rights, liberties, and security for all peoples as expressed in the United States and Texas Constitutions.
"The (court)...is firmly committed to the citizens' efforts to obtain a comprehensive and humane reform of this nations' immigration's laws, and this court agrees to state our support of the comprehensive immigration reform.
"This (court)...will express our support of this initiative by means of letters to President Barack Obama and our congressional representatives."
Approved by the Cameron County Commissioners Court Jan. 31, 2013.
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