[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 492 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 492

Expressing concern for the separation of Jose Escobar from his wife and 
    children as a result of his deportation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2017

Mr. Al Green of Texas (for himself, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Bass, Mr. Gene 
   Green of Texas, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. 
 Butterfield, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Clay, 
  Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clyburn, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Eddie Bernice 
   Johnson of Texas, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of 
Georgia, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Evans, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Lawson of 
   Florida, Ms. Lee, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. 
   McEachin, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Soto, Mr. Correa, Ms. Michelle Lujan 
    Grisham of New Mexico, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. McGovern, Ms. 
   Velazquez, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Cardenas, and Mr. Castro of Texas) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing concern for the separation of Jose Escobar from his wife and 
    children as a result of his deportation, and for other purposes.

Whereas Jose Escobar, a 31-year-old undocumented Houstonian, husband, and father 
        of two children, was arrested and deported on March 7, 2017, when he 
        went to Federal offices in Houston, Texas, to provide immigration 
        officials with an annual update on his work status;
Whereas, in January 2001, Jose Escobar entered the United States without 
        inspection;
Whereas, on January 13 and February 13 of 2001, El Salvador was devastated by 
        two major earthquakes that resulted in the displacement of an estimated 
        1.3 million persons from El Salvador's population of 6.2 million;
Whereas, on March 9, 2001, Temporary Protected Status was designated for 
        Salvadorans in the United States as of February 13, 2001, through March 
        9, 2001;
Whereas, on May 31, 2001, Jose Escobar registered for Temporary Protected Status 
        (TPS);
Whereas, on March 17, 2004, Jose Escobar's Renewal of Temporary Protected Status 
        was denied because of a misunderstanding about the date of a biometric 
        appointment;
Whereas, on December 12, 2005, a Notice to Appear was issued, placing Jose 
        Escobar into removal proceedings;
Whereas, on January 25, 2006, Jose Escobar appeared pro se for his scheduled 
        immigration hearing, at which time he requested and was granted a 
        continuance to seek legal counsel;
Whereas, on February 23, 2006, an immigration judge issued an in absentia 
        removal order as Jose Escobar did not appear at his immigration hearing;
Whereas, on November 9, 2009, Walter Ernesto Escobar, was born in Houston, 
        Texas, to parents Jose and Rose Escobar;
Whereas, on June 6, 2011, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained 
        Jose Escobar;
Whereas, on June 29, 2011, a lawyer acting on behalf of Jose Escobar filed a 
        Motion to Reopen his removal case, alleging prior ineffective assistance 
        of counsel;
Whereas, on July 13, 2011, Rose Ascencio-Escobar, a United States citizen and 
        Jose Escobar's wife, filed Form I-130, a Petition for Alien Relative, to 
        immigrate her husband to the United States;
Whereas, on August 8, 2011, Jose Escobar's Motion to Reopen his case was denied 
        and thereafter appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals;
Whereas, on October 28, 2011, the Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed the 
        denial of Jose Escobar's appeal to have his case reopened;
Whereas, on January 10, 2012, Immigration and Customs Enforcement released Jose 
        Escobar from custody and placed him under an Order of Supervision, with 
        requirements to report regularly;
Whereas, on May 17, 2012, the Petition for Alien Relative, Form I-130, was 
        approved; however, no visa was granted;
Whereas, on November 30, 2012, Jose Escobar filed an Application for Deferred 
        Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which was denied on December 3, 
        2012;
Whereas, on December 13, 2012, Jose Escobar filed an Application for Deferred 
        Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which was denied on September 17, 
        2014;
Whereas, on November 5, 2014, Carmen Marie Escobar was born in Houston, Texas, 
        to Jose and Rose Escobar;
Whereas, from 2012 through 2017, pursuant to his Order of Supervision, Jose 
        Escobar appeared at Immigration and Customs Enforcement for all 
        scheduled appointments;
Whereas, on February 22, 2017, Jose Escobar appeared at Immigration and Customs 
        Enforcement for a scheduled appointment and was detained in the presence 
        of his wife and two-year-old daughter;
Whereas, on March 10, 2017, an attorney for Jose Escobar filed a Stay of 
        Deportation;
Whereas, on March 7, 2017, Jose Escobar was physically removed to El Salvador, 
        separating him from his wife and two children, while his Request for 
        Stay of Deportation remained pending;
Whereas, on March 10, 2017, an attorney for Jose Escobar, filed a Motion to 
        Reopen his case; and
Whereas Jose Escobar, saving a prior minor traffic offense for speeding, has no 
        prior criminal record: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its ongoing concern for the human tragedy 
        resulting from the deportation of Jose Escobar to El Salvador 
        and his separation from his wife and two children;
            (2) encourages the Department of Homeland Security as well 
        as the Department of Justice to jointly investigate and 
        consider all reasonable explanations and solutions to reunite 
        Jose Escobar with his family; and
            (3) encourages the Trump administration and Congress to 
        work together to pass comprehensive immigration reform to 
        prevent the inhumane deportation and tragic separation of 
        families.
                                 <all>