093_SJ0037
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1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The United States of America was founded upon
3 the dreams and traditions and with the energy and labor of
4 immigrants who came from many different nations searching for
5 a better life; and
6 WHEREAS, For more than 300 years, various ethnic,
7 cultural, and social groups have come to our shores to
8 reunite with their loved ones, to seek economic opportunity,
9 and to find a haven from religious and political persecution,
10 bringing their hopes, their dreams, and, in turn,
11 contributing, enriching, and energizing the United States of
12 America; and
13 WHEREAS, The United States of America has taken up the
14 mantra of protector of the downtrodden, ensuring that those
15 brave men and women who face the prospect of ethnic
16 cleansing, religious oppression, torture, and even death find
17 haven in a country founded in large part by those who fled
18 these same kinds of persecution, making it our historical
19 responsibility to serve as an advocate for human rights; and
20 WHEREAS, Current immigration laws in this nation
21 frustrate many immigrants who want to become lawful permanent
22 residents and citizens of the United States of America but
23 are prevented in doing so or must wait several years due to
24 bureaucratic backlogs in the immigration system; and
25 WHEREAS, In this new century, immigrants continue to be a
26 key driving force in our economy, making substantial
27 contributions to our economic, civic and cultural life and
28 creating a skilled and diverse workforce allowing the United
29 States of America to compete globally in the 21st Century;
30 therefore, be it
31 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
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1 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
2 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Congress
3 of the United States of America to draft and pass legislation
4 to speed up the process of residency and citizenship for
5 those immigrants already residing in Illinois and in other
6 states; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That we urge the Congress of the United States
8 of America to reform current immigration laws to better
9 facilitate the naturalization of individuals residing in the
10 United States of America; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12 delivered to the President pro tempore of the United States
13 Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of
14 Representatives, and each member of the Illinois
15 congressional delegation.