A RESOLUTION CALLING ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONS THAT SEPARATE FAMILIES WITH U.S. CITIZEN OR DREAM ACT
ELIGIBLE CHILDREN
Whereas, there are over five million children under the age of 18 who have one or more undocumented parents in the United States, thousands of whom reside in the City of Chicago;
And, WHEREAS, 80% of these are U.S. citizens and the remaining are legal permanent residents or young people brought to this nation as children;
And, WHEREAS, many of these mixed status families include one spouse who is a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident so that the deportation of a spouse threatens the very bonds of marriage and the covenant made between two people to raise these children in love and commitment;
And, WHEREAS, these young people suffer lack of access to childcare centers, equal educational opportunities, health care, adequate housing and employment training because of the status of their parents and are more likely to live in poverty than other children;
And, WHEREAS, these children represent a significant sector of the future citizenry and workforce of the United States and their lack of equal access to education, health care and full participation in activities that prepare other young people for citizenship and work is harmful to the progress of the nation;
And, WHEREAS, it is now indicated that undocumented persons with U.S. citizen or Dream Act eligible children are not likely to voluntarily leave this nation, perpetuating a life in the shadows for these young people and, moreover, that in spite of the difficulties, these mixed status families have a much higher percentage of stable two person head of families than the national average;
And, WHEREAS, U.S. citizen children being de facto deported with their undocumented parents, being raised in another country and then returning to this country to reclaim their rights as citizens without having had adequate educational opportunities, will create a permane...
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