Resolution 2019-30995 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30995
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO APPEAR AS AMICUS CURIAE AND FILE A
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OR JOIN ONTO ANY OTHER SUITABLE
BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR
CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS ("DACA") LAWSUITS PENDING
BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
WHEREAS, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA") was created by the
Obama Administration in 2012 to allow some undocumented individuals brought to the
U.S. as children to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from
deportation and become eligible for a work permit in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, since obtaining deferred action, DACA recipients have made
substantial contributions as business owners, educators, researchers, artists, journalists
and civic leaders; and
WHEREAS, tens of thousands more DACA enrollees are attending local schools
across the country, studying to become our newest medical professionals, educators,
lawyers and entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, Center for American Progress, an organization that advocates for
immigration reform, said DACA recipients and their households pay about $5.7 billion in
federal taxes, pay $3.1 billion in state and local taxes, and have a combined $24.1 billion
in purchasing power; and
WHEREAS, on September 4, 2017, the Trump administration announced that it
would not renew DACA and allow the current group of beneficiaries' work authorizations
to expire; and
WHEREAS, a number of lawsuits have been filed against the Trump
administration, arguing that the termination of DACA is unlawful; and
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, the City of Miami Beach and the South Florida community exemplify
the value of diversity, as demonstrated by the social, cultural, and economic contributions
of our immigrant community; and
WHEREAS, as of April 30, 2019, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach,
FL area ranks 12th in the nation in active DACA recipients, with approximately 10,180
DACA recipients residing in South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach should support those lawsuits, which are now
pending before the Supreme Court (Docket - DHS v. Regents, No. 18-587; Trump v.
NAACP, No. 18-588; McAleenan v. Vidal, No. 18-589), as the South Florida area contains
many DACA recipients.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby authorizing the City Attorney to appear as amicus curiae and file a
brief in support or join onto any other suitable brief in support of the DACA lawsuits
pending before the United States Supreme Court.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1/ day of -016401-66( • •
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
166
Raf el E. Granado, ity Clerk
APPROVED AS TO
(Sponsored by Mayor Dan Gelber) FORM & LANGUAGE
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Agenda Item C7 A H
Date q-11-19
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
RAUL J.AGUILA, CITY ATTORNEY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
CC: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, City Attorne ,
DATE: September 11, 2019
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH,.FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO APPEAR
AS AMICUS CURIAE AND FILE A BRIEF IN SUPPORT OR JOIN ONTO ANY
OTHER SUITABLE BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR
CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS ("DACA") LAWSUITS PENDING BEFORE THE
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
The attached Resolution is submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the
September 11, 2019 City Commission meeting. The resolution is sponsored by Mayor Dan
Gelber.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA") was created by the Obama Administration in
2012 to allow some undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children to receive a
renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and become eligible for a work
permit in the U.S.
Since obtaining deferred action, DACA recipients have made substantial contributions as
business owners, educators, researchers, artists, journalists and civic leaders. According to
Center for American Progress, an organization that advocates for immigration reform, DACA
recipients and their households pay about $5.7 billion in federal taxes, pay $3.1 billion in state
and,local taxes, and have a combined $24.1 billion in purchasing power.
On September 4, 2017, the Trump Administration announced that it would not renew DACA and
allow the current group of beneficiaries' work authorizations to expire. A number of lawsuits have
been filed against the Trump Administration, arguing that the termination of DACA is unlawful.
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. The City of Miami Beach and the South Florida community exemplify the value of
diversity, as demonstrated by the social, cultural, and economic contributions of our immigrant
community. As of April 30,2019, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL area ranks
12th in the nation in active DACA recipients, with approximately 10,180 DACA recipients residing
in South Florida.
Commission Memorandum
September 11, 2019
Page 2
As such, the City of Miami Beach should support those lawsuits, which are now pending before
the Supreme Court (Docket - DHS v. Regents, No. 18-587; Trump v. NAACP, No. 18-588;
McAleenan. v. Vidal, No. 18-589), as the South Florida area contains many DACA recipients.
Mayor Gelberhereby requests that the.City Commission authorize the City Attorney to appear as
amicus curiae and file a brief in support or join onto any other suitable brief in support of the DACA
lawsuits pending before the United States Supreme Court.
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