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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-1988-007-R-881/5/88 1/7/88 2/10/88. I 7-R-88 SANCTUARY RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the United States has traditipnally been a haven for persons who have suffered persecution in other lands; • and WHEREAS, the United States Government has reaffirmed that heritage in the Refugee Act of 1980, which recognizes the right to asylum of the refugee; defined as "any person who is unable or unwilling to return to his/her country because of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and WHEREAS, this definition of refugees is adopted from the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees of 1950, with its Protocol of 1966, acceded to by the United States in 1968, and that the U.N. Convention in its Article 33 states that "No Contracting State shall expel or return P refouler') a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion;" and WHEREAS, the U.N. Convention on the Status of Refugees further states in its Article 3 that "The Contracting States shall apply the provisions of this Convention to refugees without discrimination as to race, religion, or country of origin"; and WHEREAS, under the Refugee Act of 1980 and in accord with the spirit of the United National Convention, the United States Government has generously provided refuge to persons fleeing generalized civil violence, the restriction of civil and political liberties,'or political repression in many countries, such as Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Iran, Laos, 7-R-88 Poland, the Soviet Union, Uganda, and Viet Nam by according them refugee status, asylum or its equivalent, and in such cases as Cuba or Hungary frequently granted refuge tbroPgh a recognized special status; and • WHEREAS, considering that, by contrast, the United States from 1983 through 1985 denied asylum to .more than 990 of applicants for asylum from Guatemala and nearly 940 of applicants from E1 Salvador, even though these countries have suffered civil war, the restriction ofcivil and political liberties, and/or political repression; and WHEREAS, noting, in this regard, that the United National General Assembly has recognized a state of civil war existing in E1 Salvador for the past seven years, and repeatedly has deplored widespread human rights abuses in both E1 Salvador and Guatemala; and that, among such abuses, seizure, torture, and murder by government security forces and private death squads have been.common in both countries ('Cens of thousands killed in Guatemala since 1968 and in E1 Salvador • since 1979}, and 0 WHEREAS, mindful that government and private death squads in both countries systematically have targeted and killed people in many non-military positions including teachers and university professors,university students, peasant and union leaders, journalists, and even priests because of their potential or actual civilian leadership; and WHEREAS, mindful that the military leadership in E1 Salvador and Guatemala remains in the hands of those responsible for many of these murders and other abuses, and that these military leaders are beyond the reach of civilian authority or the rule of law; and WHEREAS, mindful of the fear instilled in the • civilians of these countries where political murder can still i be carried out with impunity; and WHEREAS, bearing,in mind that in Guatemala and El -2- Salvador the civilian populations suffer the predicament of being caught in a military struggle between government and insurgent forces; and WHEREAS, recognizing that in Guatemala and E1 • Salvador government efforts to control the civilian population through counterinsurgency campaigns have caused many civilian casualties, driven many people from their homes, and brought the forcible relocation of others in refugee camps and controlled areas; and WHEREAS, mindful that tens of thousands of people have fled these countries, with well-founded fear of persecution; and WHEREAS, considering that dozens of cases have been identified in which such refugees deported by the United States to El Salvador subsequently have been murdered by security forces or death squads; and WHEREAS, considering that many other communities, such as Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and West 0 Hollywood, California; Washington, D.C.; Chicago and Urbana, Illinois; Takoma Park, Maryland; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Duluth, Minnesota;, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Rochester, New York; Madison, Wisconsin, have taken actions on behalf of political refugees by declaring themselves "Sanctuary Cities," or in other ways; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Evanston be recognized as a "City of Sanctuary" for all peoples who come here in fear of persecution,.until hostilities cease and they may safely return to their homelands, or until they receive federally recognized residency status; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council finds that immigration and refugee policy is a matter of Federal • jurisdiction; that Federal agents, not City agents, should be considered responsible for implementation of immigration and refugee policy; -3- BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as immigration status is a federal matter the City, its officers and employees will not initiate the investigation or report to the IN5 the cit.�ggnghip of any person except in matters involving a serious misdemeanor 0 or a felony; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council affirms that it is the City's policy for its employees to provide services, especially those involving public health and safety, to all of the public notwithstanding their refugee status; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City will comply with all applicable laws, statutes or regulations, including the Immigration Return and Control Act of 1986; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council requests in the name of respect for international law and human rights, and in accord with American tradition, that Federal authorities, including the Congress, take action to require nondiscriminatory compliance with the Refugee Act of 1980, so that "extended voluntary departure" status may be granted to • refugees who have fled persecution in Central America, or that they take action in some other way so that the deportation of these refugees may be suspended; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Evanston City Council urge our elected representatives to support a peaceful solution to the conflicts occurring in Central America. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval, and publication in the manner provided by law. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Adopted: Q 1988. -4-