Garcetti legislation to hel p immigrants become residents and citizens
Los Angeles City Council member Eric Garcetti
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles City Council approved legislation introduced by Councilmember Eric Garcetti to move Los Angeles immigrant residents to the front of the line when it comes to citizenship and fully participating in L.A. civic life, which would benefit the entire city and our economy.
The legislative package, authored by Garcetti, reestablishes the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and creates the nation’s first local initiative to help immigrants through the legal process of becoming a resident and citizen as proposed by President Obama’s federal immigration reform effort.
“Immigration reform is coming, but any federal program can be daunting to navigate, particularly for immigrants,” Garceti said. “This office will help L.A. immigrants cut through the red tape so they are at the front of the line when it comes to President Obama’s new pathway to citizenship. Helping deserving immigrants earn legal status will build stronger L.A. communities and a stronger L.A. economy.”
In addition to offering services to immigrants to help their residency and citizenship requirements, the legislative package aim is to help immigrants learn about city services – for example preventative care so that immigrant Angelenos get help they need and taxpayers don’t incur higher costs driven by emergency room visits.