Bill Text: HI SR48 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declaring Hawaii To Be A Hookipa (welcoming) State And Requesting The Governor To Appoint A Hookipa Commission.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-16 - Referred to IAA/JDL, WAM. [SR48 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SR48-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	48
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

declaring hawaii to be a ho‘okipA (welcoming) state and requesting the governor to appoint a ho‘okipa commission.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the motto of the State of Hawaii "Ua Mau ke ea o ka ‘āina i ka Pono" or "The life of the land is perpetuated through righteousness" reminds us that our deepest community values call us to welcome visitors and care for wanderers in our midst; and

 

     WHEREAS, the traditional Hawaiian value of Ho‘okipa, or open-hearted hospitality, calls us to welcome visitors and strangers alike and to unselfishly extend to others the best that we have to give; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is justifiably proud of its rich immigrant heritage, which has woven our many people into a rich tapestry of races, ancestral groups, religions, cultures, and languages from many parts of the world; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's unique spirit of inclusiveness allows its diverse people to live in relative harmony because of our respect and aloha for each other and our commitment to peace and justice; and

 

     WHEREAS, our state and county governments cultivate a culture of inclusion when they ensure that all people in our communities receive equal protection of the laws and respectful treatment without regard to race, national origin, ancestry, or citizenship status; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's inclusionary and peaceful culture is now threatened by inflammatory rhetoric and harsh federal policies that vilify immigrants, divide communities and families, and create fear and suspicion among different racial, ethnic, and ancestral groups; and

 

     WHEREAS, the federal Executive has recently revived a program under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357) that authorizes state and local governments to enter into agreements with the Immigration Control and Enforcement Agency of the Department of Homeland Security that deputize these state and local law enforcement officers to participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws; and

 

     WHEREAS, the enforcement of federal immigration laws is a function that is constitutionally reserved to the federal government; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body recognizes the numerous contributions of individuals of various immigration statuses who have sought a better life by immigrating to the United States, and while this body does not condone immigration without legal authorization, it finds that the effects of trying to deport all undocumented immigrants greatly outweigh any negative consequences their presence in our country and State might have; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii receives limited financial support from the federal government to provide health care, housing, education, and other social services to migrants from various Pacific Island communities who have left their ancestral homelands because of above-ground testing of nuclear weapons; and

 

     WHEREAS, the involvement of state and local law enforcement officers in federal deportation programs and activities would alienate members of our many communities from Hawaii's law enforcement agencies and undermine the relationships with law enforcement that are necessary to secure the peace and successfully resolve criminal investigations; and

 

     WHEREAS, to preserve peace in their communities, many state and city governments throughout the United States have acted to protect their residents who are undocumented immigrants by preventing local law enforcement agents from asking people about their immigration status or from serving as federal agents performing the duties reserved for federal agents, and by ensuring that all residents have access to state and local services, regardless of immigration status; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the State of Hawaii is declared a Ho‘okipa State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Hawaii and its various jurisdictions and agencies recognize that immigration enforcement is a federal function; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that neither Hawaii nor any of its subdivisions expend state funds by entering into an agreement pursuant to section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357) or similar agreement with the Immigration Control and Enforcement Agency; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor appoint a Ho‘okipa Commission to ensure a safe, secure, and welcoming community for everyone, including immigrants of every status, to promote respectful relations and collaboration between community members and agencies providing public safety services; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court; each mayor of the several counties; each chair of the several county councils; and police chiefs of the Counties of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Immigration; Ho‘okipa Commission; ICE