Alameda County board urges Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform. A board member framed the issue as an economic and public‑safety priority, noting the county’s large immigrant population and asserting that reform would help family reunification, extend health‑care eligibility and encourage immigrants to cooperate with law enforcement.

The resolution, introduced during proclamations, cited county figures mentioned at the meeting — roughly 500,000 foreign‑born residents and an estimated 124,000 undocumented residents — as part of the rationale for urging a pathway to citizenship and changes to federal immigration policy. The board did not read the full text aloud but moved the measure and invited community partners to receive the proclamation and resolution for a photo.

Representatives from SEIU and long‑term care workers accepted the resolution. A SEIU political coordinator thanked the board and introduced member Ana Julia Ramirez, who addressed supervisors in Spanish and described how immigration status has affected her family and ability to travel home.

The board took no additional local policy actions tied to the resolution; the item was a formal expression of support and a request that the 113th Congress continue deliberations on reform.