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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza was named a 2012 Border |
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Hero by Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center of El Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, The annual Border Hero awards recognize individuals |
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who have devoted themselves to improving the lives of immigrants in |
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the U.S.-Mexico border region and beyond; such actions are in |
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keeping with the mission of Las Americas, which provides free legal |
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services to political asylum seekers, refugees, and other |
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vulnerable individuals seeking to establish a new life in the |
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United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge Salas-Mendoza, judge of the 120th Judicial |
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District Court in El Paso, has been a tireless advocate for women |
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and children, working to implement programs to help young people in |
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foster homes excel in academics and professional life and |
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encouraging them to overcome obstacles and challenges by making the |
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most of their abilities; she has also created an initiative that |
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arranges employment for foster children, with attorneys |
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volunteering as mentors and acting as role models beyond the |
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workplace; she frequently speaks at area schools on the themes of |
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integrity and professional achievement; and |
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WHEREAS, She received her undergraduate degree from the |
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Harvard University Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and is a |
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graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles School of |
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Law; in addition to her time spent presiding over the 120th Judicial |
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District Court, Judge Salas-Mendoza contributes to her profession |
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by serving as president of the El Paso Bar Association and as a |
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member of the El Paso Community Justice Council; and |
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WHEREAS, An enduring champion of those in need, Judge Maria |
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Salas-Mendoza has had a positive and powerful impact on countless |
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lives, and her accomplishments as both a professional and a |
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volunteer make her a most deserving recipient of this prestigious |
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honor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Judge Maria Salas-Mendoza on being |
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selected as a 2012 Border Hero by Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy |
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Center and extend to her best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge Salas-Mendoza as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |