By: Anchia H.C.R. No. 95
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas portion of the border between the United
States and Mexico comprises more than half of the nearly 2,000-mile
boundary between the two countries; as a result of this proximity,
the State of Texas is uniquely aware of the importance of the border
to the security of the nation as a whole and sensitive to the impact
of immigration on the economic and social well-being of both
countries; and
WHEREAS, The Office of the Inspector General at the
Department of Homeland Security estimates the costs of detaining
undocumented immigrants to be $1.7 billion annually, and current
research indicates that detaining immigrant and asylum-seeking
families does not deter illegal immigration; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, Homeland Security re-opened the T. Don
Hutto Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas, operated by private
prison firm Corrections Corporation of America, for the purpose of
detaining immigrant and asylum-seeking families who are awaiting
immigration proceedings; Of the up to 250 individuals detained in
the facility's family unit, at least half are children; and
WHEREAS, Children who have had no decisive role in their
migration or flight should not be exposed to unnecessary trauma,
and should not be detained in a regimented facility run by a
for-profit prison corporation with significant restrictions on
their liberty while their parents await immigration proceedings;
and
WHEREAS, The United States House and Senate committees on
appropriations has each expressed concern about children of
families in immigrant detention centers, and has stated that family
detention should be the last alternative and not the first; and
WHEREAS, Studies have shown high rates of immigration court
appearances for people in supervised release programs; A valid
alternative to detaining immigrant families would be to release and
reunite these children and their parents but monitor them under
supervised release programs, thereby reducing the emotional
consequences to young children; and
WHEREAS, Supervised release programs cost American taxpayers
significantly less than detention; Considering the long-term
consequences of family detention for children and the nation's
economic well-being, every possible alternative to family
detention should be examined, considered, and exhausted before such
action is taken; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security consider all alternatives to the detention of immigrant
and asylum-seeking families with children; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the
speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the
senate of the United States Congress, all members of the Texas
delegation to the congress, and the secretary of the United States
Department of Homeland Security, with the request that this
resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.