HR0466 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0466 LRB094 12354 CSA 46836 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, This nation was founded by immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Maria Isabel Benitez, Elvira Arellano, and Disifredo Adan del Valle came to Illinois hoping to fulfill their American Dream, worked hard, paid their taxes, provided for their U.S. born children, and stayed on the right side of the law; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Benitez, who has four U.S. born children, was deported to Mexico May 7, 2004, in spite of being four months pregnant and after 16 years residing in this country; she was deported even while she was in the process of applying for legal permanent residency; thanks to a humanitarian visa, Ms. Benitez was reunited with her family last year, but her visa expires soon and she will be facing deportation in September of 2005; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Arellano was employed at O'Hare airport cleaning airplanes when she was arrested on December 10, 2002, and scheduled for deportation; her stay expires in August of 2005; if deported, she could be separated from her only child, a U.S. born boy, for whom she is the only breadwinner; and

WHEREAS, Mr. del Valle was deported to Mexico on March 25, 2005, leaving behind his wife, Ana, and their three children, all of whom are U.S. citizens; Mr. del Valle, who was in the process of obtaining his permanent legal residency, was a homeowner and the only source of support for his family in the Humboldt Park community; and

WHEREAS, These individuals have worked hard to pursue the American Dream, but our immigration laws are making life a nightmare for their families; and

WHEREAS, We are a nation of laws, but these laws are clearly not served when individuals, whose only desire was to come to this country and provide a better future for themselves and their children, are separated from their children; and

WHEREAS, The interests of our great nation are best served when we can act with compassion and fairness towards those who, far from being a security risk, pay their dues and contribute with work and dedication to their communities, and in many cases are their children's sole support; and

WHEREAS, We need a comprehensive, family-driven immigration policy in this country; we need a system that keeps husbands and wives and parents and children together; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge President George W. Bush to rescind the deportation orders for Ms. Benitez, Ms. Arellano, and Mr. del Valle and support legislative efforts for comprehensive immigration reform; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to President Bush and to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.