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WHEREAS, Pittsburgh is a welcoming city where diversity, inclusion, and tolerance are cherished. Our city is home to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from diverse backgrounds who have helped to transform our economy and reinvigorate our neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, since taking office, the Trump Administration has implemented several policies that directly contradict American values of liberty, justice, diversity, and respect for all; and,
WHEREAS, hateful rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies originating from the White House are dividing our country, separating families, and leading to the inhumane treatment of asylum seekers, immigrants, refugees, and others seeking a better life in America; and,
WHEREAS, due to a new policy implemented by United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the United States Department of Justice is denying asylum to and even detaining victims of rape, domestic violence, and gang violence. The policy sets a dangerous precedent for tens of thousands of people, especially women, who under the new policy can now be deported back to violent and abusive situations in their native countries; and,
WHEREAS, under a new rule issued by the United States Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security, the Trump Administration would be permitted to detain immigrant children with their parents indefinitely while they await a hearing, a process that can take months. Previously, under the Flores Agreement, which would be terminated under this new rule, the federal government was only allowed to detain immigrant children with their parents for twenty days; and,
WHEREAS, earlier in 2018, the Trump Administration eliminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 individuals hailing from countries suffering from disease, famine, war, violence, natural disasters, and other afflictions. The Trump Administration announced that it would terminate TPS for individuals from Honduras, Nepal, El Salvador, Haiti, ...
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