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SENATE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SEPARATION OF

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FAMILIES AT THE BORDER

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2019 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Gene Davis

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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.