Failure to respond to public concern over immigration would be irresponsible. Immigration laws must be strictly enforced. But the way that authorities are trying to compensate for the failure to devise a sane national immigration policy is wrong on several counts.

To begin with, it is selective enforcement. Large-scale immigration roundups are random and scattershot, often sweeping up the good and the bad. It often depends on where anti-immigrant sentiment is the strongest, not where criminal violations are prevalent. (...)

In many instances, the process is unfair (...) The hit-and-miss effect is particularly evident at the local level. In some communities, police are encouraged to arrest illegal immigrants, regardless of whether they are familiar with immigration laws. (...)

Finally, the sudden intensification of anti-immigrant measures is ineffective. As a deterrent, it is unlikely to have any effect on workers who manage to keep their jobs, although it will drive more illegal immigrants to the underground economy to avoid deportation.

"There are people around the world who want to come and create here and add jobs and excitement and innovation, and we're keeping them in Canada and in Europe and Asia and not letting them here," Mr. Bloomberg said (...)

In the past, Mr. Bloomberg has strongly criticized efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, saying the American economy depends on immigrants to survive.

2008 ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS

CALLING FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WHICH PROMOTES THE REUNIFICATION OF FAMILIES, PROVIDES LEGAL STATUS WITH A PATH TO EARNED CITIZENSHIP, AND A PLAN FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE IMMIGRANT WORKERS WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors recognizes the economic, social and cultural contributions immigrants bring to their communities; and WHEREAS, the responsibility of municipal leaders is to protect the wellbeing and safety of all the people residing in their cities; and WHEREAS, many local governments have passed resolutions, ordinances and policy directives reaffirming non-participation in the enforcement of civil immigration law by city officials and agencies to promote immigrant trust in its police and avert racial profiling and civil rights violations; and WHEREAS, The International Association of Chiefs of Police Guide to Immigration Issues concludes that local police leaders face a growing set of immigration related duties in the face of scarce and narrowing resources; and WHEREAS, raids and deportations are increasing in scope and number in recent weeks and months, separating families and spreading terror in our communities; and WHEREAS, The U.S. Conference of Mayors opposes the separation of families by the enforcement of our current immigration laws and supports the reunification of families that have been so separated, especially those “mixed status” families with U.S. citizen children of which there are an estimated four million children currently in this country; and WHEREAS, the national political debate on immigration reform has tended to polarize our communities; and WHEREAS, it is the duty of local governments to respect the rights of and provide equal services to all individuals regardless of national origin or immigration status, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The U.S. Conference of Mayors acting on behalf of its constituents to call on the President of the United States to issue an executive order to cease and desist in the execution of all raids and deportations that do not relate to our national security or to criminal activity until comprehensive immigration reform is completed and to suspend immediately all deportations of parents with U.S. citizen children; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports comprehensive immigration reform which promotes the reunification of families, provides legal status with a path to earned citizenship to the estimated 12 million undocumented workers and designs a plan for current and future immigrant workers.