Commemorating the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States and around the world.

Whereas, on November 1 and 2 of each year, the United States celebrates All Souls’ Day, also known as Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, to honor friends, family members, and loved ones who have passed; Whereas Día de los Muertos includes traditions and rituals that trace their origins to diverse celebrations and beliefs held by pre-Hispanic cultures and indigenous groups of Mesoamerica; Whereas the memory of loved ones is commemorated through a traditional altar containing ofrendas (offerings) and honoring their memory ensures they never cease to exist; Whereas Día de los Muertos allows individuals, families, and communities to mourn, reflect, and celebrate the universal experience of death, through their ancestors, loved ones, and the living; Whereas many migrants who attempt to enter the United States arrive to the region seeking safety, protection, and to be reunited with loved ones and family; Whereas immigrant communities have a tradition of providing respite and care to arriving migrants; Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection estimates that 8,052 migrants died crossing the United States-Mexico border between 1998 and 2020, not including missing migrants who have never been found; Whereas 21 migrants died in fiscal year 2020 while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the highest number of annual deaths in 15 years; Whereas 5 migrants have died in fiscal year 2021 while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Whereas the International Organization for Migration estimates that 377 migrants have died in the United States-Mexico border region thus far in 2021; Whereas the United States has a legal obligation to uphold international law and must respect the rights of people seeking asylum and to uphold the inherent human dignity of each migrant person in its capacity; Whereas migrant deaths and deaths all around the globe have been exacerbated by COVID–19; Whereas at least 741,000 individuals have died from COVID–19 in the United States as of October 28, 2021; Whereas at least 4.9 million people from around the globe have died from COVID–19 as of October 28, 2021; and Whereas the United States has the responsibility to provide equitable protections against COVID–19 for all peoples within the Nation’s borders and address disproportionate effects faced by underserved communities: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the annual celebration of Día de los Muertos in the United States and around the world; (2) urges the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to promote policies that uphold the inherent human dignity of each migrant person and put an end to migrant deaths along the United States-Mexico border; and (3) calls on the United States and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID–19 protections and ensure all communities have equal access to protections to put an end to COVID–19 related deaths.

Summary: This resolution recognizes the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos. The resolution urges the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to promote policies that uphold the human dignity of each migrant person and put an end to migrant deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border. Finally, this resolution calls on the United States and the Department of Health and Human Services to promote policies focused on COVID-19 protections and ensure that all communities have equal access to these to put an end to COVID-19 related deaths.