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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This resolution urges the Congress of the United States and federal policymakers to
10 preserve and reunify families.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 ▸ recognizes the family values held by Utah citizens;
14 ▸ recognizes the role of government to support and preserve families and to act in the
15 best interests of a child; and
16 ▸ urges the United States Congress and federal policymakers to end the practice of
17 separating children from migrant families and to reunite children who have already
18 been separated.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
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22 Be it resolved by the Senate of the state of Utah:
23 WHEREAS, Utahns firmly believe that families belong together;
24 WHEREAS, the role of government in respect to the family should be to support and
25 preserve the family;
26 WHEREAS, the best interests of the child should always be the government's objective
27 when the government takes action in relation to a child;
28 WHEREAS, only in certain cases of a parent's abuse or neglect of a child should the
29 government intervene to separate the family in order to protect the child;
30 WHEREAS, the government should always afford a parent full due process rights any
31 time the government removes a child from a parent for any substantial period of time;
32 WHEREAS, the government should provide robust reunification services to reunite
33 children who have been separated from their parents; and
34 WHEREAS, research abounds that children who are separated from their parents may
35 experience trauma, which can impact the well-being of those children for years to come:
36 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the state of Utah urges the
37 Congress of the United States and the policymakers within the federal government to halt the
38 separation of migrant parents from their children, promptly reunify separated children with
39 their parents, and desist from any further separation based upon a family's pursuit of asylum or
40 any other legal immigration status.
41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Utah's
42 congressional delegation.