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.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
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. | ||
