CITY OF SAN PABLO
City Council
1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Fax: 510-215-3011
www.SanPabloCA.gov
October 15, 2025
U.S. REGULAR MAIL/PERSONAL COURIER
The Honorable John Garamendi
US House of Representatives
2428 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
RE: H.R. 4696 LEGISLATION, CO-SPONSOR REQ UEST FROM THE CITY OF SAN PABLO
Dear Representative Garamendi,
On behalf of the City of San Pablo City Council, I write in strong support of H.R. 4696, the Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 Act (the Act), introduced by U.S. Congressional Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-13
th) and U.S. Senator Padilla (D-CA). This
important legislation would pr ovide a permanent pathway to lawful permanent residence (LPR) for individuals who have lived continuously in the United States for at least seven years.
We respectfully urge you to cosponsor this bill and join in advancing its passage.
The Act updates and modernizes the long-s tanding “registry” mechanism within the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The under lying language for the registry has not been revised in over 50 years and currently applies only to individuals who arrived before 1972. By expanding eligibility, the Act would finally allo w long-term residents, including many visa holders waiting decades for priority dates, to adjust their status to LPR without further delay.
Here in San Pablo, our City has worked hard to deve lop and ensure a relationship of community trust and partnership with our large immigrant community. The very fabric of our City is interwoven with residents from dive rse backgrounds, repres enting many races and ethnicities that come from a wide range of origins. In fact, San Pablo has 39.5% of its total population designated as foreign-born, with 58.4% of these foreign-born residents designated as an undocumented population under the 2022 US Census/ACS Survey. 1 These neighbors are integral to the fabric of our local community, and their hard work and dedication should be recognized through a fair and accessible pathway to permanent status.
1 Source: US Census figures, ACS 2022, 5-year Estimates Attachment: City Council Resolution #2017-045
Honorable U.S. Congressional Representative Garamendi (D-8th) Re: H.R. 4696 LEGISLATION, CO-SPONSOR REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF SAN PABLO October 15, 2025
We urge you to co-sponsor H. R. 4696 and support this practi cal and overdue reform that would strengthen our communities, stabilize fam ilies, and honor the contributions of long- term residents who call this country home.
Thank you for your consideration and for your continued service to our 8th District.
Sincerely,
Arturo Cruz, Mayor
City of San Pablo
cc: San Pablo City Council
City Manager
City Attorney
Assistant City Manager
Police Chief
Honorable U.S. Congressional Representative Garamendi (D-8th) Re: H.R. 4696 LEGISLATION, CO-SPONSOR REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF SAN PABLO October 15, 2025