HJR 115

Commending Gustavo Torres.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 16, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 2026
WHEREAS, Gustavo Torres, the longtime executive director of CASA, one of the largest immigrant and Latino advocacy organizations in the Commonwealth and the Mid-Atlantic United States, retired in November 2025; and
WHEREAS, Gustavo Torres devoted 34 years, including 31 years as executive director, to advancing CASA's mission through various advocacy campaigns and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, under Gustavo Torres's leadership, CASA grew from a group of three people in a church basement in 1991 into an organization that staffs hundreds of people across the Commonwealth, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, with nearly 200,000 members from 46 states and Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, through appearances on C-SPAN and a national rally he helped organize in Washington, D.C., in 2013, Gustavo Torres became a recognized and respected voice for immigrant rights and services on the national stage; and
WHEREAS, Gustavo Torres's success was a product of his visionary leadership and his willingness to foster coalitions with other advocacy groups to achieve CASA's mission and objectives; and
WHEREAS, Gustavo Torres's legacy of service with CASA and the remarkable impact he had on the organization was recognized at CASA's 40th anniversary celebration on September 18, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Gustavo Torres demonstrated extraordinary compassion and integrity over a career dedicated to the health and well-being of all people and made a profound and lasting impact on countless lives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA, on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Gustavo Torres as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth and best wishes for a joyful and fulfilling retirement.