2004 Adopted Resolutions
72nd Annual Meeting
Boston

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HAITIAN REFUGEE IMMIGRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 1998

WHEREAS the federal government of the United States has enacted the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 to deal with the Haitian Refugee crisis; and

WHEREAS during the 108th Congress (2nd Session), Senators Graham, Dewine, Lautenberg, Durbin and Kennedy introduced a bill to the Senate seeking to amend the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998; and

WHEREAS during the 108th Congress (1st Session), Representative Meek introduced a similar bill to the House of Representatives seeking to amend the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998 (“HIFRA”); and

WHEREAS the proposed bill is entitled HIFRA Improvement Act of 2003; and

WHEREAS the proposed amendment seeks to (1) include document fraud among the ground in inadmissibility into the United States which shall not preclude an otherwise qualifying Haitian alien from permanent resident status adjustment; (2) provide that determinations with respect to children shall be made using the age of an individual as of October 21, 1998; (3) permits new status adjustment application to be filed for a limited time period; and (4) directs the Secretary of Home Security to establish procedures for reopening status adjustment applications based upon the amendments made by HIFRA Improvement Act of 2003,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U. S. Conference of Mayors strongly encourages the U.S. Congress to pass the proposed amendments to the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1998.