| 1 | 1 | | 86R23650 BPG-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Rodriguez H.R. No. 1237 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Members of the Austin Sanctuary Network have |
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| 7 | 7 | | demonstrated tremendous dedication to the well-being of vulnerable |
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| 8 | 8 | | asylum seekers; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Founded in 2015, ASN is a coalition of faith |
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| 10 | 10 | | communities, immigrants, and others committed to sheltering and |
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| 11 | 11 | | assisting immigrants and asylum seekers who have fled dangerous and |
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| 12 | 12 | | deadly conditions in their countries of origin; the network upholds |
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| 13 | 13 | | the time-honored tradition of offering safe haven in places of |
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| 14 | 14 | | worship as it stands in solidarity with undocumented immigrants who |
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| 15 | 15 | | are being detained unjustly and denied asylum status; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, ASN strives to create a community to provide |
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| 17 | 17 | | physical sanctuary for immigrants who have exhausted their legal |
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| 18 | 18 | | options and face deportation; congregations offering sanctuary |
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| 19 | 19 | | supply shelter, needed food, clothing, and legal, medical, and |
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| 20 | 20 | | educational assistance; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Since late 2016, as Immigration and Customs |
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| 22 | 22 | | Enforcement has become more aggressive in pursuing undocumented |
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| 23 | 23 | | immigrants, ASN has broadened its scope in order to protect human |
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| 24 | 24 | | rights; it has embraced asylum seekers Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, |
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| 25 | 25 | | and Ivan Ramirez as members of the community, supporting them as |
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| 26 | 26 | | they live in sanctuary at two local churches; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Gamez escaped violence and death threats in El |
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| 28 | 28 | | Salvador, and in September 2017, he received sanctuary at First |
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| 29 | 29 | | Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin; Ms. Ramirez and her young |
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| 30 | 30 | | son, Ivan, fled violence in Guatemala, and they have been residing |
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| 31 | 31 | | at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church for nearly three years; the |
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| 32 | 32 | | lives of all three are at risk if they are sent back to their |
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| 33 | 33 | | countries of origin; previously, they were determined to be a |
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| 34 | 34 | | low-level priority for deportation and were granted temporary |
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| 35 | 35 | | stays, and ICE is vested with the discretion to decline to pursue |
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| 36 | 36 | | enforcement or to further defer action, given that the interest |
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| 37 | 37 | | served is not substantial or is outweighed by other considerations; |
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| 38 | 38 | | and |
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| 39 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, and Ivan Ramirez are |
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| 40 | 40 | | seeking asylum in this country, as is their legal right, and the |
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| 41 | 41 | | Austin Sanctuary Network is working with faith and compassion to |
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| 42 | 42 | | help these brave members of the faith community realize their |
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| 43 | 43 | | dreams of living in safety and freedom and making positive |
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| 44 | 44 | | contributions to our society; now, therefore, be it |
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| 45 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 46 | 46 | | Legislature hereby recognize the Austin Sanctuary Network for its |
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| 47 | 47 | | efforts in behalf of asylum seekers Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, |
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| 48 | 48 | | and Ivan Ramirez and commend the members of the network for their |
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| 49 | 49 | | humanitarian work; and, be it further |
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| 50 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 51 | 51 | | prepared for ASN as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
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| 52 | 52 | | of Representatives. |
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