Bill Text: TX HR1237 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizing the Austin Sanctuary Network for its efforts in behalf of asylum seekers Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, and Ivan Ramirez.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-24 - Referred to State Affairs [HR1237 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR1237-Introduced.html
86R23650 BPG-D | ||
By: Rodriguez | H.R. No. 1237 |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Austin Sanctuary Network have | ||
demonstrated tremendous dedication to the well-being of vulnerable | ||
asylum seekers; and | ||
WHEREAS, Founded in 2015, ASN is a coalition of faith | ||
communities, immigrants, and others committed to sheltering and | ||
assisting immigrants and asylum seekers who have fled dangerous and | ||
deadly conditions in their countries of origin; the network upholds | ||
the time-honored tradition of offering safe haven in places of | ||
worship as it stands in solidarity with undocumented immigrants who | ||
are being detained unjustly and denied asylum status; and | ||
WHEREAS, ASN strives to create a community to provide | ||
physical sanctuary for immigrants who have exhausted their legal | ||
options and face deportation; congregations offering sanctuary | ||
supply shelter, needed food, clothing, and legal, medical, and | ||
educational assistance; and | ||
WHEREAS, Since late 2016, as Immigration and Customs | ||
Enforcement has become more aggressive in pursuing undocumented | ||
immigrants, ASN has broadened its scope in order to protect human | ||
rights; it has embraced asylum seekers Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, | ||
and Ivan Ramirez as members of the community, supporting them as | ||
they live in sanctuary at two local churches; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Gamez escaped violence and death threats in El | ||
Salvador, and in September 2017, he received sanctuary at First | ||
Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin; Ms. Ramirez and her young | ||
son, Ivan, fled violence in Guatemala, and they have been residing | ||
at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church for nearly three years; the | ||
lives of all three are at risk if they are sent back to their | ||
countries of origin; previously, they were determined to be a | ||
low-level priority for deportation and were granted temporary | ||
stays, and ICE is vested with the discretion to decline to pursue | ||
enforcement or to further defer action, given that the interest | ||
served is not substantial or is outweighed by other considerations; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, and Ivan Ramirez are | ||
seeking asylum in this country, as is their legal right, and the | ||
Austin Sanctuary Network is working with faith and compassion to | ||
help these brave members of the faith community realize their | ||
dreams of living in safety and freedom and making positive | ||
contributions to our society; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby recognize the Austin Sanctuary Network for its | ||
efforts in behalf of asylum seekers Alirio Gamez, Hilda Ramirez, | ||
and Ivan Ramirez and commend the members of the network for their | ||
humanitarian work; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for ASN as an expression of high regard by the Texas House | ||
of Representatives. |