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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING A HEARING ASSESSING THE NEEDS OF THE AFGHAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND AFGHAN REFUGEES RESETTLED IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, on August 30, 2021 the United States military ended a nearly 20-year occupation of Afghanistan. The war ultimately ended in a collapse of the Afghan government and an overtaking of the government by the Taliban; and
WHEREAS, according to reports, the United States is preparing to bring 50,000 Afghan refugees into the United States in the next year, with at least 500 expected to be resettled in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2021, 75 unaccompanied minors from Afghanistan arrived in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, due to catastrophic violence and bloodshed, recent Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers have fled their country, home and families and will require their basic human needs be met through community and government support as they resettle in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the greater Cook County community has identified a desire and willingness to support Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers, but a list of specific needs and services, along with streamlined collection point is required to organize a response; and
WHEREAS, the IL Muslim Civic Coalition has built partnerships with over 150 local, regional, and national organizations to collectively impact underserved and often invisible communities, including Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Human Rights Commission is called to a hearing before the Legislation and Intergovernmental Committee with the IL Muslim Civic Coalition and its partners, RefugeeOne and the Muslim Women Resource Center, along with any other relevant organizations selected by the Human Rights Commission to discuss and identify the needs of recent Afghan Refugees and Afghan Asylum Seekers and make recommendations to the Cook County Board and the greater Cook County community on how it may marshal resources to support this refugee community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, within 60 days after the hearing, the Cook County Human Rights Commission will provide a report to the Cook County Board detailing the outcome of the hearing and documenting methods to best support the short and long term needs of recent Afghan Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
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