Res. No. 078-07-12463RESOLUTION NO. 78 -07 -12463
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE HAITIAN
IMMIGRANTS BASED ON THE "WET-FOOT/DRY-FOOT" POLICY AND
URGING PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS TO RESCIND THE DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION POLICIES
AGAINST HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS AND CALLING FOR THE EQUAL
TREATMENT OF ALL IMMIGRANTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the United States has a long history of welcoming with open arms
individuals who have fled their homeland because of political and economic instability; and
WHEREAS, Haiti is a country that has been plagued by political and economic instability
over several decades; and
WHEREAS, over the years many Haitian migrants have fled their homeland in search of
a politically safe haven and a better life in the United States; and
WHEREAS, recently 101 Haitian Asylum Seekers arrived ashore in nearby Hallandale
Beach after spending three weeks at sea, without food or water, on a leaky boat; and
WHEREAS, the immigration policy of the United States provides for the immediate
detention and deportation of Haitians who arrive to the United States by boat; and
WHEREAS, numerous local civic, religious, and political organizations have expressed
moral outrage against the disparate treatment that Haitians have received under the immigration
laws of this country; and
WHEREAS, the civic, religious, and political organizations have asked as a matter of
fairness and morality for the immediate release from detention of the 101 Haitian Asylum
Seekers; and
WHEREAS, it has been documented that asylum seekers, who are free from detention,
have a better chance of winning an asylum claim due to adequate access to lawyers; and
WHEREAS, volunteer bar associations, including the Haitian Lawyers Association, have
agreed to provide free legal representation to the Haitian Asylum Seekers; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission calls upon our federal officials to release from
detention the 101 Haitian Asylum Seekers in order for them to pursue their asylum claims with
adequate access to lawyers; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission strongly supports the plea made by other organizations
for the immediate release of the 101 Haitian Asylum Seekers.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA THAT:
Pg. 2 of Res. No. 78-07-12463
Section 1. The foregoing recital paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as
being true, and the same are hereby made part of this Resolution.
Section 2.' The City Commission hereby requests fair treatment and the immediate
release of the 101 Asylum Seekers, who recently arrived to our shore, in order for them to pursue
their asylum claims with adequate access to lawyers.
Section 3. The City Commission hereby directs the City Clerk to forward a copy of
this Resolution to the United States President, all Members of Congress of the United States,
Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the South Florida Delegation of the State Legislature.
Section 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this I st day of May 2007
ATTEST- qPROVED-
CITY CLERK MAYOR
CITY RNEY
Commission Vote:
4-1
Mayor Feliu:
Yea
Vice Mayor Wiscombe:
Yea
Commissioner Palmer:
Yea
Commissioner Birts:
Yea
Commissioner Beckman:
Nay
RESOLUTION NO.2007 -lb
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, RE QUESTING FAIR TREATMENT
FOR THE ONE HUNDRED AND ONE (101) HAITIAN ASYLUM
SEEKERS WHO RECENTLY ARRIVED ASHORE IN HALLANDALE
BEACH AND REQUESTING THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM
DETENTION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO FORWARD THIS
RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AND STATE
OFFICIALS; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the United States has a long history of welcoming . with open arhis
indivii i duals,vho have fled their homeland because of political and economic instability; and
WHEREAS, Haiti is a country that has been plagued by political and economic
instability ristability over several decadegi, and
WHEREAS, over the years many Haitidn,'ihigrants have,.fled fh.oir.homelan.d.in.search of
'a politically litically safe haven and a better life in the United States; and
.i Hal
WHEREAS, recently 101 Haitian Asylum Seekers arrived ashore ' n nearby landale
Beach after spending three weeks at sea, without food or Water, on.a.1eaky boat; and
WHEREAS, the immigration policy of the. United States provides for the. immediate
detention and a deportation of Haitians who arrive to the United States by boat-, and
WHEREAS; numerous local civic, religious., and political organizations have expressed
moral outrage against the disparate treatment that Haitians have received under the immigration
.laws of this co-untry;
WHEREAS,'the civic, religious, and political organizations have asked as a of
fairness and morality for the timmediate release from detention of the 101 Haitian Asylum
Seekers; and
WHEREAS, it has , been doctImented that asylum seekers, who are free from detention,
have a better chance of winning an asylum claim due to adequate access to. lawyers; and
WHE REAS, volunteer bar association Lawyers Association, have'
0, including the Haitian La 0
agreed to provide free legal representation to the Haitian Asylum Seekers, and
WHE REAS, the City Commission calls upon out federal officials., to release frorn
detention .the '101 Haitian Asylum Seekers in order f6r them to pursue their asylum claims with
adequate
quate access to lawyers; and
WHEREAS., the City Commission Strongly supports the plea made by other
-i Seekers.
organizations for the immediate release of the 101 Haitian Asylun
R2007,- Haitian Asy]Wri Seekers Release & Treatment Page lof 2
N I OW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OFS,UNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The foregoing recital paragraphs are hereby ratified
and confirmed As being true, and the, same are hereby I made part of this Resolution.
Section 2. Request for Fair Treatment and Itninediate Release of Haitian Asylum
Seekers., The City Commission hereby requests fair treatment and the immediate release of the
101 Asylum Seekers; who recently arrived to our shore; in order ;for them to pursue their a9ylurn
claims with adequate access to lawyers.
Section 4. Directive to the City Clerk. The City Coin mission hereby directs the City Clerk
to forward a copy of this Resolution to the United States Presjderit; all Members of Congress of
the United States, Florida Governor Charlie Cris,t and the South Florida Delegation of the State
Legislature.
Section 5. Effective Date, This Resolution. shall become eff6c.tive upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 19"' day of April 2007.
ATTEST'
1 1 1 4iet
Jane AA. IF-lin s, . i y Clerk
APPROVED. AS TO FORM
AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
Attorney
Vote: q �o -11
Mayor Edelcup
Vice Mayor Thaler
-Commissioner Brezin
Cominissioner Goodman
Commissioner Iglesias
Moved by:
Seconded by, C �,)) : � r T_G L<,- t'As
Z(Yes)
(No)
L'(YeS)
(No)
_(No)
—(Yes)
_(No)
__k!!fjYeS)
(Na)
k2od! - Haitian Asylum Seekers Release & Treatment Page 2 of 2
-1 —.-
City of Sunny Isles BeAdh
18070 Collins Avenue
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
(305) 947-0606 City Hall
(305) "949- 31.13 Fax ,
(305),947-2150 Building Department
(305)947-51071 Fax
MEMORANDUM.
The Honorable City Commission,
FROM: Norman S. Edelcup, Mayor
DATE: April 19, 2007
RE: Fair Treatment and Immediate Release of Haitian Asylum Seekers
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the attached, Resolution be adopted.
Reasims:
City Colnnzzsszon
Nor=4,5. Mckup, Mayor
Lewis J. Ilialcr, Vice Mayor
Roslyn Brezin, Commissi.oner
Gerry Goodman, Commissioner
Danny Iglesias, Commissioner
A. John Szerlag, ('iiykanqger
Hans Ottin6r, QtyAttorpq
Jane A. Hine's, Ciiy Clerk
As we all'knowi the United States has a long history of wdlcbm I ing I with open arms; Individuals
who have. fled their homeland because of political and economic instability. It is no secret that
the country of Haiti has. been plagued by political and economic instability over several decades.
As a result, of country conditions in Haiti, many Haitian migrants with only the clothes on their
backs have fled their homeland in search of a better life in this country. Unforturiately, the.
immigration laws in this country have not been fair to Haitians who are seeking the same
opportunities that have been provided to others.
A group of Haitian migrants who ;recently arrived ashore at nearby Hallandale 'Beach 'is facing
immediate deportation under these immigration laws. Because of the unfair and Undignified
treatment of Haitian, migrants, numerous political, religious, and civic leaders in this community
have recently called upon the federal government to treat the newly arrived group` of Haitians
with compassion and justice. We can help the Haitian migrants to pursue their asylum claims, by
asking for their inimediate release from. detention..
Thank. you for your support for this Resolution.
)c t-> 1b - 'o K/
Agenda Item J�y
Date 4 -7
RESOLUTION NO. R-2007-64
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI, FLORIDA,
EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF THE HAITIAN
IMMIGRANTS BASED ON THE "WET-FOOT/DRY-
FOOT" POLICY AND URGING PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO
RESCIND THE DISCRIMINATORY IMMIGRATION
POLICIES AGAINST HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS AND
CALLING FOR THE EQUAL TREATMENT OF ALL
IMMIGRANTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE
DATE AND ALL OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the City of North Miami, Florida (City) is home to a vibrant and involved
immigrant community; and
WHEREAS, the immigrants who reside in the City are concerned about the welfare and
safety of immigrants in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City of North Miami is a municipality governed by a legislative body
which include immigrants; and
WHEREAS, the United States immigration laws provide for disparate treatment against
C�
Haitian immigrants; and
WHEREAS, certain nationals are granted credible fear interviews and often paroled into
the community once they touch dry land, while Haitian migrants are incarcerated indefinitely
and denied due process; and
WHEREAS, this current immigration policy is unfair, discriminatory and inhumane; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council call upon the Bush Administration and
Members of Congress to issue the necessary directives providing for equal treatment and due
process for all immigrants, including Haitian nationals, and the immediate release of the unjustly
incarcerated Haitian migrants; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council of the City of North Miami wish to support the
application of the "wet-foot/dry-foot" immigration policy to Haitian migrants.
M 07-168 -Page 1 of 3 -
NOW THERJE-FORET, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR, AND CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section I. Support for Equal Treatment of Immigrants. The Mayor, and City
Council supports the application of the "wet-foot/dry foot" immigration policy to Haitian
migrants and strongly encourage President George W. Bush and Members of Congress to issue
the necessary directives providing for due process for all immigrants and the immediate release
of the incarcerated Haitian migrants.
Section 2. Direction to the City Clerk. The City Clerk is directed to forward a
certified copy of this Resolution to the United States President, all Members of Congress of the
United States, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and all members of the Legislature of the State of
Florida, all Mayors of Miami-Dade County and to the local communications media.
Section 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by a 5-0 vote of the Mayor and City Council of the
City of North Miami, Florida, this 10 day of April 2007.
/KEVIN A. BURNS
MAYOR
ATTEST
FRAN OLL D
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
V. L'YNIN WHITFIELD
CITY ATTORNEY
SPONSORED BY: COUNCILWOMAN MARIE ERLANDE STERIL
IWO 07-168 - Page 2 of 3 -
Moved by: Councilman Blynn
Secondedby: Councilwoman Steril
Vote:
Mayor Kevin A. Bums
x (Yes)_
(No)
Vice Mayor Michael R. Blynn
x (Yes)_
(No)
Councilperson Scott Galvin
x (Yes)_
(No)
Councilperson, Jacques A. Despinosse
x (Yes)_
(No)
Councilperson Marie Erlande Steril
x (Yes)_
(No)
IWO 07-168 - Page 3 of 3 -