Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Condemning the deportation of Southeast Asian Madisonians and throughout the United States, and calling for an end to these practices.
Body
WHEREAS, Wisconsin is home to over 61,287 Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese, Cambodian and other ethnic minority groups from Laos, many of whom are refugees as a result of the American War in Southeast Asia (Vietnam War/Secret War); and,
WHEREAS, Madison is home to over 2,600 Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos as of the 2010 Census; and,
WHEREAS, many Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos fought alongside United States soldiers in the American War in Southeast Asia; and,
WHEREAS, tens of thousands of Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos were killed, including 30,000 Hmong people who were killed in the American Secret War in Laos; and,
WHEREAS, Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos who were allies subsequently faced retaliation in their countries for their cooperation with the United States after the American War in Southeast Asia; and,
WHEREAS, Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos fought for and gained rights to resettlement in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority groups from Laos have made their homes in Wisconsin and Madison, raising families, working, living, and contributing for several decades; and,
WHEREAS, nearly 4,800 Hmong, Lao, and members of other ethnic minority groups from Laos*, 8,400 Vietnamese, and 1,500 Cambodian individuals across the country have been served deportation orders; and,
WHEREAS, approximately 300 Hmong, Lao, and members of other Laos ethnic minority groups Wisconsin residents have been served deportation orders, at least 250 of whom have lived in the United States at least 10 years; and,
WHEREAS, Hmong, Lao, and other ethnic minority group refugees from Laos have long-established roots in Wisconsin, many have no family ties in Laos, do not speak the language and have never lived in Laos; and,
WHEREAS, Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees have already been subject to deportation for years and have faced hardship and retaliation; and,
WHEREAS, Hmong, Lao and other ethnic minority group refugees from Laos ordered to be removed by the U.S. will face the danger of marginalization, violence or death in Laos; and,
WHEREAS, current and past generations of refugees and immigrants have helped build Madison and make it the great city that it is, bringing economic development, vibrancy and cultural diversity; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison opposes efforts to deport, separate and traumatize families; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison reaffirms its status as a “Welcoming City” for refugees, immigrants and newcomers from all over the world, as established by RES-14-00232, adopted in April 2014,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison strongly condemns the deportation of Southeast Asian Madisonians and throughout the United States, and calls for an end to these practices,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to each Member of our Congressional Delegation and to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security of the United States.