TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft resolution in support of Humanitarian Parole for Jose Luis Alvarez Sandoval, Department of Homeland Security Case No. A 92 812 968.
DISCUSSION
On February 21, 2016, Mr. Jose Alvarez was on his way to pick up his son, Victor Alvarez, when he was stopped by California State University Long Beach Police for a broken headlight. During the course of that traffic stop, Mr. Alvarez was referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to a more-than 20-year-old non-violent drug offense on his record, and subsequently transferred and deported that same evening.
While in the United States, Mr. Alvarez lived in Long Beach, California. He owned and operated his own business. Mr. Alvarez is the proud father of six children, who are all United States citizens, including his son Jorge Luis Alvarez, who served our Country as a member of the United States Marines. Mr. Alvarez's deportation has separated him from his wife and children for whom he was the primary economic provider and has forced his son, Victor, to drop out of school to help provide for the family.
In our community, Mr. Alvarez's deportation has created a sense of insecurity for undocumented students and students with mixed status families at California State University Long Beach. In response, the University adopted General Order 55 to clarify that campus police should not engage in enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Mr. Alvarez and his family have petitioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a grant of Humanitarian Parole to allow him to reunite with his family. The City of Long Beach is home to immigrants and refugees from many parts of the world, and we recognize the contributions that immigrants have made to the economic, social, and cultural well-being of the City. I hereby support the effort to acquire Humanitarian Parole and return Jose Luis Alvarez to his waiting family.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT