City Council Meeting
.lanuaiy 26, 2022
To President and Members of the City Council:
Your Committee on Health and.Human Relations to which was referred a communication on a Reaffirmation of City of Chicago as sanctuary and welcoming city to black immigrants, especially Haitian migrants (Alderwoman King) Re-referral to the Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights
R2021-1129
begs leave to report and recommend that your Honorable Body, Approve the proposed communication transmitted here with.
This recommendation was concurred in by a viva voce vote of the Committee on Health and Human Relations.
Respectfully submitted,
Roderick T. Sawyer, Chairman Committee on Health and Human Relations
THE CITY OF CHICAGO RESOLUTION
DESIGNATE THE CITY OF CHICAGO AS A WELCOMING CITY TO ALL BLACK IMMIGRANTS, ESPECIALLY THE HAITIAN MIGRANTS
WHEREAS there were thousands of Haitian migrants gathered at the Southern border of the United States in September 2021, seeking to enter for an improved quality of life; and
WHEREAS many of these Haitian migrants left Haiti following the devasting earthquake in their home country on January 12, 2010, that killed nearly 300,000 citizens and left millions homeless resulting in the resettlement of Haitians throughout Central, South and North America; and
WHEREAS the Haitian immigrants at the border suffer from extreme heat, exhaustion, hunger, and other inhumane conditions while awaiting processing from the Department of Homeland Security; and
WHEREAS while under the supervision of the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Haitian migrants were singled-out and mistreated by CBP personnel who in captured images, were seen on horseback whipping and corralling the movements of these citizens of the world in a manner that recalled the days of slavery; and
WHEREAS the Haitian migrants deserve to be treated humanely and equitably in their pursuit of liberty and justice as they seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the United States; and
WHEREAS those wishing to come to the United States should be supported as they apply for lawful status in the United States, either as an asylee or by other means; and
WHEREAS these citizens of the world need housing and support services such as counseling, education, health care, food, security, case management and legal assistance; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, where one-out-of-five of the city's residents was born outside of the United States to open their doors with this level of support; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago on this day, October 14, 2021 reaffirms its status as a Welcoming City and seeks to welcome to our City all black immigrants, especially the Haitian migrants in the United States; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we the Mayor and the members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago hereby reaffirm the City of Chicago's status as a sanctuary and welcoming city and its commitment to remain a place of sanctuary and refuge for migrants and refugees from around the world; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the City Council ofthe City of Chicago hereby urges city departments, local businesses, and charitable organizations to work with the local Chicago area-based organizations serving the Haitian-American community to provide shelter and sustenance for migrant and refugee families relocating to Chicago and integrating into our communities.
