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RESOLUTION NO. 2018 -
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA
VISTA CALLING ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY
REUNITE FAMILIES SEPARATED AT THE BORDER
WHEREAS, the U.S. government recently ended an immigration enforcement policy that
resulted in the separation of more than 2,000 minors from their families; and
WHEREAS, despite the President's recent Executive Order, families remain separated
and the "zero tolerance" policy, which criminalizes all migrants who attempt to cross the
border and denies asylum -seekers and other immigrants of their rights to due process,
continues; and
WHEREAS, despite a lack of transparency, there are multiple reports of immigrant
detainees being held in inhumane conditions at detention facilities; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge our country's history of disgraceful and inhumane
immigration laws and policies including: the declaration of some human as slaves who
were regarded as inherently "less than" others in our Constitution; the forced relocations
and decimation of Native American Peoples and cultures; the rejection of Jewish refugees
who were refused entry to the U.S. during WWII and later killed in Nazi Concentration
Camps; and the internment of Japanese -American families which caused irreparable harm
to families and children, marry from our South Bay community; and
WHEREAS, more recently, many of our community members and leaders have lifted
their voices in righteous moral opposition to the separation of families and the detention
of thousands of children, and are calling for their release from detention and declaring
that family detention is not the solution to family separation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is a community that values humanity, and believes
that all human beings have rights, regardless of their country of origin; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has a rich cultural heritage including contributions
from immigrants around the world; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of July 1, 2017 the population of
the City of Chula Vista is estimated to be 31 % foreign -born; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista is a member of the Welcoming America Network
and is applying to become a Certified Welcoming City; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista confirms its support for the California Values Act
(SB 54) and a "clean" DREAM Act; and
Resolution No. 2018- Page No. 2
WHEREAS, the practice of punishing innocent children and disrupting families as an
attempted deterrent to immigration is a human rights abuse and these practices deprive
both parent and child of reasonable due process; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. State Department's "Trafficking in Persons Report 2018"
concludes:
"Removal of a child from the family should only be considered as a temporary, last
resort. Studies have found that both private and government -run residential institutions
for children, or places such as orphanages and psychiatric wards that do not offer a
family -based setting, cannot replicate the emotional companionship and attention found
in family environments that are prerequisites to healthy cognitive development"; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations has called for an immediate halt to the practice of
separating families entering the United States, claiming that the practice violates their
rights as well as international law, and
WHEREAS, a policy that forcibly separates immigrant families fuels the climate of fear
experienced by many immigrants and refugees, causing them to avoid reporting crime to
law enforcement agencies, thus making it more difficult to solve crimes; and
WHEREAS, separating children from families, especially when the family is merely
invoking their right to seek asylum in the U.S., is inconsistent with the values of the City
of Chula Vista; and
WHEREAS, the Chula Vista City Council believes it has an obligation to take a stand
against government actions that are immoral and inhumane; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista Human Relations Commission has asked the City
Council to consider taking actions to oppose policies resulting in the separation of
immigrant children from their families, to support non -criminal processing of immigrant
families, and support actions or policies that expedite reunification.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula
does as follows:
1. Declare its opposition to the current administration's "zero tolerance" policy and call
Galls on the United States government to immediately reunite families separated at
the U.S. border with Mexico, especially in cases where the family is exercising its
right to apply for asylum, or in cases when the only offense committed is crossing the
border illegally.
2. Direct the Mayor to forward a copy of this resolution to California's representatives
of the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Attorney General Jeff
Sessions, and President Donald Trump; our city's State Assembly and Senate
representatives; the members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors; and the
mayors and city managers of the cities within San Diego County.4) ee -& y er
Resolution No. 2018- Page No. 3
Presented by Approved as to form
AYES: Councilmembers: *** NAYS: Councilmembers: *** ABSENT:
Councilmembers: ***
ATTEST:
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO) CITY OF CHULA VISTA)
Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor
Resolution No. 2018- Page No. 3
Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor Glen R. Googins, City Attorney
Patricia Aguilar, City Councilmember
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista,
California, this 10th day of July 2018 by the following vote:
I, Kerry K. Bigelow, City Clerk of Chula Vista, California, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 2018-*** was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the City
Council at a regular meeting of the Chula Vista City Council held on the I Oth day of July
2018.
Executed this 10th day of July 2018.
Kerry K. Bigelow, MMC, City Clerk