The United States Conference of Mayors closes it’s annual gathering in Oklahoma City today. The conference, which includes Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Phoenix, AZ Mayor Phil Gordon, passed a resolution opposing Arizona’s SB1070 and copycat legislation and supporting legal challenges to the law, while calling for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

It should be noted that their the Conference’s call for CIR is qualified by five principles, passed in 1999, that they feel reform must contain. The first principle is increased border security and enforcement.

In light of the two most recent killings at the U.S. Mexico border of Mexican citizens at the hands of U.S. Border Patrol, the adoption of this resolution seems to be another example of politicians wanting to have it both ways when talking about immigration, Politicos want the Latino votes that are critical for them to stay and office and thus want to appear as if they are on the side of human rights, yet when it comes down to the nuts and bolts, still want to use language and policy that is causing harm to immigrant communities.

The Conference adopting a measure that calls for “The protection of human and civil rights of both citizens and non-citizens being
detained” while essentially supporting actions like Obama’s recent call for more National Guard troops at the border essentially is double-speak that means nothing.

The Conference adopted a second, separate resolution calling for Comprehensive Immigration Reform that would preempt states from passing laws like SB1070. This resolution also calls for the immediate repeal of SB1070.

Both resolutions rightfully raise the issues of family separation but the second resolution includes language supporting the payment of “fines” for the undocumented trying to legalize their status and English proficiency.

What is not included in any of the resolutions is language in support of what could actually get passed as a start down the road to Comprehensive Immigration Reform, like the DREAM Act.

You can read the above mentioned resolutions and others in PDF form here.