84R6141 JGH-D
By: Herrero H.R. No. 1918
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On December 16, 2014, Sarah R. Saldaña of Dallas won
confirmation from the U.S. Senate as assistant secretary in charge
of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the Department of
Homeland Security, and this impressive milestone in her career is a
fitting occasion to commend her for her many achievements; and
WHEREAS, A native of Corpus Christi, Ms. Saldaña earned her
bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Texas A&I University; after
working as an eighth-grade language arts teacher in Dallas schools,
she went on to work for the U.S. Department of Labor and the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as for the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, before earning her law
degree from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law in
1984; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Saldaña began her legal career as a law clerk to
the Honorable Barefoot Sanders of the U.S. District Court, Northern
District of Texas, then moved into private practice at Haynes &
Boone LLP and Baker Botts LLP; during those years, she also taught
legal writing and research at the Dedman School of Law; and
WHEREAS, In 2004, Ms. Saldaña entered public service as an
assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas,
prosecuting cases in bank and mortgage fraud, civil rights, human
trafficking, and public corruption; in 2009, she became deputy
criminal chief of the Northern District, where she managed the
major fraud and public corruption section; and
WHEREAS, Two years later, this outstanding prosecutor was
nominated by President Barack Obama to be the United States
attorney for the Northern District of Texas, and she started in
September 2011, becoming the first Latina chief federal prosecutor
in Texas; in her new position with the Department of Homeland
Security, she will likewise be the first Hispanic woman to lead ICE;
and
WHEREAS, Ms. Saldaña is a member of the William "Mac" Taylor
American Inn of Court, the Dallas and Texas Bar Foundations, and the
Dallas Bar Association; her extensive community service includes
membership on the board of the Dallas Center for Contemporary Art
and the City of Dallas Zoning Board of Adjustment, and her many
awards include recognition as the Latina Attorney of the Year by the
Hispanic National Bar Association in 2011; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Saldaña's intelligence, expertise, and
commitment to the law have greatly benefited the citizens of Texas
and earned her the deep and lasting respect of her peers, and she
may indeed reflect with pride on all that she has accomplished as
she takes on the challenges and opportunities of her important new
position; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate Sarah R. Saldaña on her
confirmation as assistant secretary in charge of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security and
extend to her sincere best wishes for success in her new position;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Saldaña as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.