Res 2018-120/supporting the reversal of the Department of Homeland Security’s Family Separation Policies

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RESOLUTION NO. 2018-120R A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS SUPPORTING THE REVERSAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S FAMILY SEPARATION POLICIES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. RECITALS: 1. The City Council supports The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Resolution that was adopted during their 86a'Annual Meeting on June 11, 2018. The adopted Resolution calls for the reversal of the Department of Homeland Security's Family Separation Policies. 2. The City Council feels that considerable attention has been paid to the plight of children at the Southern border and the Department of Health and Human Services(HHS)has confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)has separated more than 700 children from their parents since October 2017, including more than 100 children under age four. 3. The Department of Justice has adopted a"zero tolerance"policy toward individuals apprehended at the border, which calls for the prosecution of all migrants entering the United States outside of ports of entry and the resulting forced separation of many children from their families. 4. The new policy establishes that for parents and caregivers who are processed in the criminal court system and held in federal jails, their children will be classified as unaccompanied minors and housed in shelters awaiting placement with a US-based adult who can assume their care and if the Office of Refugee Resettlement(ORR)cannot locate a US-based adult able to care for the child,the child will stay in federal custody, separated from family, indefinitely. 5. The number of children in HHS custody has grown by nearly 2,000 over the past month alone, shelters for migrant children are reportedly at 95 percent capacity, and HHS is preparing to add potentially thousands of beds in the coming weeks to accommodate the rising number of detained children. 6. Separating children from their families in this manner is inconsistent with American family values. 7. Many of these families are fleeing violence in their home countries, and it is inhumane to punish them for seeking safety and invoking their right to seek asylum. 8. By adopting a policy that forcibly separates immigrant families, DOJ and DHS fuel the climate of hostility experienced by many immigrants and refugees residing here,which causes many to feel alienated and avoid contact with government agencies, which impacts public