HR0165 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0165 LRB099 10175 GRL 30399 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there were 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Deportations have reached record levels under President Obama, rising to an annual average of nearly 400,000 since 2009; and

WHEREAS, According to United States Representatives Raul M. Grijalva and Yvette Clarke, although the Obama Administration reportedly prioritized deporting only criminals, many individuals with no serious criminal history consistently have been deported; and

WHEREAS, Increased deportations and a continuously broken immigration system exacerbate the living conditions of United States citizen children whose parents have been deported; and

WHEREAS, Separation of children from their parents, irrespective of immigration status, always results in severe consequences for young children who are left with no parental guidance or care and a highly unstable financial situation; and

WHEREAS, As immigration continues to be at the center of a national debate, President Obama and Congress must implement a more humanitarian immigration policy that keeps families together; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is home to over 2 million immigrants, of which approximately 425,000 to 625,000 are unauthorized to live in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Many members of Congress recently signed a letter requesting that President Obama suspend any further deportations; and

WHEREAS, Since Illinois is home to a large number of unauthorized immigrants from all parts of the world, this state should make it a priority to keep families together and continue to press President Obama and Congress for a solution to our broken federal immigration system; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President Barack Obama to take executive action to suspend any further deportations of unauthorized individuals with no serious criminal history; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.