HJ0027 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0027 LRB101 08898 MST 53988 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, For nearly two decades, the U.S. Congress has time and time again failed to pass the Dream Act or comprehensive immigration reform that would protect and empower individuals who were brought into the United States illegally as minors; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, the State of Illinois took matters into their own hands and enacted the Illinois Dream Act, which granted in-state tuition and access to privately funded scholarships to undocumented young people who, among other things, had received a high school diploma or equivalent in the State; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, after yet another failure by Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, former President Barack Obama signed the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to temporarily shield these so called DREAMers from deportation; and

WHEREAS, The DACA program has allowed over 800,000 young people, of which 42,376 are Illinois residents, the ability to fundamentally enrich the social and cultural character of the State of Illinois and, thus, of our nation; and

WHEREAS, A 2016 report by the Center for American Progress found that more than 60% of DACA recipients achieved financial independence, and 61% reported helping their families; in addition, DACA recipients reported increased earnings by an average of 42%, and 70% of those in school with DACA are pursuing a bachelor's degree or higher; and

WHEREAS, Despite these contributions to our society, on September 5, 2017, President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and

WHEREAS, Although the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has since blocked the Trump Administration's immoral decision to end the DACA program, it is imperative that Congress acts to protect the inherent worth of each of the 800,000 talented young Americans whose livelihood hangs by a thread; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois values and respects the inherent worth of every person, regardless of their immigration status; and

WHEREAS, Federal legislation to protect DREAMers, placing all of the potentially immediately eligible workers on a path to legal status, would add a total of $281 billion over 10 years to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP); therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we call on the One Hundred Sixteenth United States Congress to uphold our country's founding values by passing the Dream Act, given that the unwavering perseverance and resilience of immigrants have helped make the United States of America a beacon of diversity, inclusivity, and opportunity; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, United States Senator Richard J. Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and the President of the United States.