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RESOLUTION URGING PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO SUSPEND DEPORTATIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED VENEZUELANS WITH NO CRIMINAL HISTORY AND URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO IMMEDIATELY DESIGNATE VENEZUELAN IMMIGRANTS FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS

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WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has a significant and growing Venezuelan population, some of whom are undocumented Venezuelan immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Venezuelans have greatly contributed to the progress of Miami-Dade County, and the United States at large; and
WHEREAS, there are severe humanitarian consequences of deporting undocumented Venezuelans due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions in Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, deportation of undocumented Venezuelan parents harms young children, who are often left without parental guidance or care and in a highly unstable financial situation; and
WHEREAS, in 2012 there were 11.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States, according to the PEW Hispanic Center; and
WHEREAS, there were 368,644 deportations from the Unites States in 2013, according to United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement; and
WHEREAS, America�s immigration system is broken; and
WHEREAS, legislation to reform immigration policy was passed by the United States Senate on June 27, 2013; and
WHEREAS, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security has the power to grant Temporary Protected Status to nationals of certain countries for humanitarian causes; and
WHEREAS, currently, immigrants from countries granted Temporary Protected Status include immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges President Barack Obama to suspend deportations of undocumented Venezuelans with no criminal history.
Section 2. Urges the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately designate Venezuelan immigrants for Temporary Protected Status.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to President Barack Obama, the members of the Florida Congressional Delegation, and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
Section 4. Directs the County's federal lobbyists to advocate for the action set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2014 Federal Legislative Package to include this item.