RES-2015-264RESOLUTION NO. 2015- 2 6 4_
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ANAHEIM URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES AND CONGRESS TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE
THE NUMBER OF SYRIAN REFUGEES ALLOWED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO WORK WITH
OTHER NATIONS TO PRESERVE THE LIVES AND DIGNITY
OF SYRIAN REFUGEES AND TO TAKE STEPS TO REFORM
FEDERAL HOUSING PROGRAMS TO ALLOW REFUGEES
TO RECEIVE PRIORITY HOUSING BENEFITS.
WHEREAS, since 2011, an estimated 11 million Syrians have left their homes to escape
war, more than 4 million, most of them women and children, have fled the country altogether to
escape civil war and violence, and 7.6 million, half of the nation's pre -crisis population, are
internally displaced within Syria; and
WHEREAS, the number of Syrian refugees has rapidly increased as the conflict worsens,
and Syria now has the world's largest refugee population, with the total number expected to
grow exponentially in the next year; and
WHEREAS, nearly 3,000 refugees have died or gone missing attempting to flee Syria by
crossing the Mediterranean Sea and an estimated 220,000 more have died in Syria due to this
horrific conflict; and
WHEREAS, more than 16,000 refugee cases have been filed for consideration in the
United States, however, the United States has admitted fewer than 1,500 Syrian refugees since
the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011; and
WHEREAS, the United States has accepted a far smaller ratio of refugee cases during
this crisis in comparison to others that have occurred in the past; and
WHEREAS, in September 2015, the State Department announced that the United States
of America would accept 10,000 more Syrian refugees next year, falling short of maintaining the
role the United States plays as a safe haven from war and other atrocities; and
WHEREAS, the White House recently announced an increase in the worldwide refugee
cap to 100,000 annually by 2017 in an effort to respond to this crisis.
WHEREAS, the City of Anaheim has one of the largest population concentrations of
Middle Eastern asylum -seekers, asylees, and refugees in the West Coast.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Anaheim:
1. The Anaheim City Council. urges the President of the United States to
dramatically increase the number of Syrian refugees allowed into the United
States of America.
2. The Anaheim City Council urges the President and the United States Congress to
work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and
other countries to preserve the lives and dignity of Syrian refugees.
3. The Anaheim City Council urges the President and the United States Congress to
reform Federal Housing Programs to provide new Americans with priority access
to critical housing benefits through Section 8 and/or other housing programs.
4. The Anaheim City Council urges the President and the United States Congress to
direct the United States. Citizenship and Immigration and Services to assist
asylum -seekers, asylees, and new Americans with the appropriate preparation and
priority attention for naturalization and citizenship processing.
5. The Anaheim City Council urges the President and the United States Congress to
direct the Department of Health and Human Services to collaborate more directly
with refugee -serving organizations in strengthening the health and human service
`safety net' for Middle Eastern asylum -seekers, asylees, and new Americans,
particularly in Southern California.
THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION is approved and adopted by the City Council of the
City of Anaheim this 6th day of October , 2015, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Mayor Tait and Council Members Kring, Murray and Brandman
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Vanderbilt
CITY OF ANAHEIM
By.
MA. OR OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM