HR0466 LRB094 12354 CSA 46836 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, This nation was founded by immigrants; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Maria Isabel Benitez, Elvira Arellano, and
4 Disifredo Adan del Valle came to Illinois hoping to fulfill
5 their American Dream, worked hard, paid their taxes, provided
6 for their U.S. born children, and stayed on the right side of
7 the law; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Ms. Benitez, who has four U.S. born children, was
9 deported to Mexico May 7, 2004, in spite of being four months
10 pregnant and after 16 years residing in this country; she was
11 deported even while she was in the process of applying for
12 legal permanent residency; thanks to a humanitarian visa, Ms.
13 Benitez was reunited with her family last year, but her visa
14 expires soon and she will be facing deportation in September of
15 2005; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Ms. Arellano was employed at O'Hare airport
17 cleaning airplanes when she was arrested on December 10, 2002,
18 and scheduled for deportation; her stay expires in August of
19 2005; if deported, she could be separated from her only child,
20 a U.S. born boy, for whom she is the only breadwinner; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Mr. del Valle was deported to Mexico on March 25,
22 2005, leaving behind his wife, Ana, and their three children,
23 all of whom are U.S. citizens; Mr. del Valle, who was in the
24 process of obtaining his permanent legal residency, was a
25 homeowner and the only source of support for his family in the
26 Humboldt Park community; and
 
27     WHEREAS, These individuals have worked hard to pursue the
28 American Dream, but our immigration laws are making life a
29 nightmare for their families; and
 

 

 

HR0466 - 2 - LRB094 12354 CSA 46836 r

1     WHEREAS, We are a nation of laws, but these laws are
2 clearly not served when individuals, whose only desire was to
3 come to this country and provide a better future for themselves
4 and their children, are separated from their children; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The interests of our great nation are best served
6 when we can act with compassion and fairness towards those who,
7 far from being a security risk, pay their dues and contribute
8 with work and dedication to their communities, and in many
9 cases are their children's sole support; and
 
10     WHEREAS, We need a comprehensive, family-driven
11 immigration policy in this country; we need a system that keeps
12 husbands and wives and parents and children together;
13 therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16 we urge President George W. Bush to rescind the deportation
17 orders for Ms. Benitez, Ms. Arellano, and Mr. del Valle and
18 support legislative efforts for comprehensive immigration
19 reform; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to
21 President Bush and to each member of the Illinois congressional
22 delegation.