Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Allow the Redesignation of Haitian Temporary Status Protection Applicants to Resident Status and the Suspension of Removal of Haitian Nationals
Adopted at the 79th Annual Meeting in 2011
WHEREAS, Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and has long suffered through political instability, financial difficulties, violence, and hurricanes; and
WHEREAS, since the January 12, 2010 earthquake, the Department of Homeland Security has granted temporary status protection to thousands of Haitian nationals to allow them to stay in the United States which combats the massive migration by allowing working Haitians to remain in this country so they may continue to support relatives in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, conditions in Haiti have not improved over the past 15 months and there is still a need for Haitian nationals to continue to work and support relatives in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Help Haitian Act of 2010; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for additional reform to ensure that Haitian nationals are protected by laws in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Haitians who have received Temporary Status Protection have become productive residents of the United States and their status should be changed and redesigned to resident status; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are charged with implementing immigration laws in this country and can spearhead necessary reforms of these laws; and
WHEREAS, denial of Temporary Protective Status and removal of Haitian nationals who entered the United States subsequent to January 12, 2010 would force them to return to a severely depressed region; and
WHEREAS, requiring individuals to return and live under current conditions in Haiti amounts to inhumane treatment and is inconsistent with our values as a country; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports immigration reform to include the re- designation of Haitian nationals who have been granted Temporary Status Protection to resident status and the suspension of the removal of undocumented Haitian nationals, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports immigration reform with re-designation of Haitian nationals who have been granted Temporary Protection Status to resident status and the suspension of the removal of undocumented Haitian nationals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on President Obama, the United States Congress, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to institute immigration reform which protects the status of Haitian nationals residing in the United States. Projected Cost: Unknown