H.Res. 838

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 838 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 838

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

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 28, 2025

Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Ansari, Ms. 
Velazquez, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Carson, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Casar, 
Ms. Simon, Mrs. Torres of California, Mr. Soto, Ms. Norton, Mr. Gomez, 
and Mrs. Ramirez) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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RESOLUTION

Commemorating the annual celebration of Dia 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 Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead, to 
honor friends, family members and loved ones who have passed;
Whereas Dia 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 Dia de los Muertos celebrations in pre-Hispanic times were led by the 
goddess Mictecacihuatl, known as ``Lady of the Dead'', and the 
celebration lasted a month;
Whereas, after the Spanish arrived in Mexico and began converting the native 
peoples to Roman Catholicism, the holiday was moved to coincide with All 
Saints' Day and All Souls' Day;
Whereas the memory of loved ones is commemorated through a traditional altar 
containing ofrendas (offerings) and honoring their memory ensured they 
never cease to exist;
Whereas Dia de los Muertos reinforces familial bonds and the importance of 
honoring one's ancestry;
Whereas Dia de los Muertos emerged and gained prominence during the 1960s, 
symbolizing cultural pride, heritage, and resistance;
Whereas the tradition of Dia de los Muertos has grown in popularity across the 
United States, showcasing the vast influence of Mexican culture on 
American society;
Whereas the blending of traditions and shared celebrations exemplifies the unity 
and diversity that strengthen the United States as a Nation;
Whereas Dia de los Muertos offers a moment to reflect on the value of life and 
the love that endures beyond death, honoring those who came before us 
and the memories that continue to guide our families and communities;
Whereas that same spirit of remembrance calls attention to lives lost in 
circumstances that demand compassion and accountability, and the United 
States must be mindful of the human cost of its immigration-detention 
practices: for example, in fiscal year 2025, at least 23 individuals 
died while in United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
custody, a troubling increase over previous years;
Whereas, among those tragedies, the death of Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, a 38-
year-old father of 2, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent during a 
traffic stop in Franklin Park, Illinois, on September 12, 2025, 
underscores the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and humane 
treatment in immigration enforcement;
Whereas these losses underscore the urgency of ensuring that all people are 
treated with dignity and humanity, consistent with the values that 
symbolize Dia de los Muertos, the principles of family unity, human 
rights, and collective memory that call upon this body to honor the 
lives of those lost, reaffirm respect for life, and ensure humane 
treatment of all persons, including those in custodial settings; and
Whereas, through the celebration of Dia de los Muertos, communities across the 
United States find healing in remembrance, strength in shared heritage, 
and unity in honoring the lives and memories of those who have passed 
with values that reflect the compassion, inclusion, and respect for 
human dignity that strengthen our Nation: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the annual celebration of Dia de los Muertos 
in the United States and around the world;
(2) honors the rich cultural contributions of Mexican-
American, Latino, and Indigenous communities to the United 
States, including the traditions of remembrance, family, and 
community embodied in Dia de los Muertos;
(3) celebrates the remembrance of Latinos and loved ones 
that have enriched the United States;
(4) expresses its condolences and solidarity with families 
who are remembering loved ones during the Dia de los Muertos 
period, especially those who died while in immigration 
detention or as a result of enforcement actions;
(5) urges the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement, and other relevant agencies to protect 
the health, dignity, civil rights, and family unity of 
individuals in immigration custody, including during culturally 
significant observances; and
(6) encourages community organization, educational 
institutions, and all levels of government to collaborate in 
raising awareness about the significance of Dia de los Muertos, 
to foster intercultural understanding, and to engage in 
remembrance practices that respect heritage and human dignity.
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