CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO PROTECT FAMILIES FROM SEPARATION
THROUGH DEPORTATION.
WHEREAS, the city of Chicago is a city of immigrants, with a long history of contributions to the fabric of the society; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants historically have generated economic growth in Chicago by working, saving and establishing businesses, and have also made great contributions to Chicago's cultural development and to a democratic society; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is the first Sanctuary City in the nation, declared by Mayor Harold Washington in 1983 and subsequently renewed by Mayor Richard Daley and by Mayor Rahm Emanuel; and
WHEREAS, under a broken federal immigration system caused by congressional gridlock, deportations have reached record levels under President Obama, rising to an annual average of nearly 400,000 since 2009; and
WHEREAS, According to U.S. Representatives Raul M. Grijalva, Yvette Clarke, and Luis Gutierrez, although the Obama Administration is prioritizing to deport only criminals, many individuals with no criminal history have been deported; and
WHEREAS, Increased deportations and a continuation of our broken immigration system exacerbate the living conditions of U.S. citizen children whose parents have been deported; and
WHEREAS, Separation of children from their parents, for any reason and irrespective of immigration status, results in severe consequences for young children who are left with no parental guidance or care and a highly unstable financial situation; and
WHEREAS, Immigration continues to be at the center of national debate. President Obama and Congress must implement a more humanitarian immigration policy that keeps families together and respects the right of all workers to support their families; and
WHEREAS, Several members of Congress recently signed a letter requesting that President Obama suspend further deportations and extend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and
WHEREAS, Children and their families should not have to live in fear of government-forced separation; it is therefore necessary to expand the protections established by the DACA program, and to expand the services currently provided to spouses, children and parents of active duty members ofthe U.S. Armed Forces to include all children and their families; and
WHEREAS, because Chicago is home to immigrants from all parts ofthe world, the City should therefore make it a humanitarian priority to keep children and their families together, and continue to urge Congress and President Obama to reach a prompt, just and comprehensive immigration reform;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Chicago calls upon the Obama Administration to suspend any further deportations of unauthorized individuals with no criminal history and to exercise his power to issue an executive order to expand DACA to spouses, children and parents until congress passes a humane immigration reform.
Alderman peorge Cardenas f 12th, Ward