HomeMy WebLinkAboutJ-4 Resolution: Haitian Asylum SeekersCity of ~Vliami Gdrelens
1515-200 NW 167~' Street
Miami Gardens, Florida 33169
Aqenda Cover Paqe
Date: April 25, 2007
Fiscal Impact: No X Yes ^
Public hearing ^
Quasi-Judicial ^
(If yes, explain in Staff Summary) Ordinance ^ Resolution x
Funding Source: 1 st Reading ^ 2nd Reading ^
Contract/P.O. Requirement: Yes ^ No x Advertising requirement: Yes ^ No X
Sponsor Name/Department: RFP/RFQ # Yes o No X
Mayor Shirley Gibson and Councilman Andre Williams
Title
Resolution supporting the Fair Treatment for Haitian Asylum Seekers and
for their immediate release from Detention.
This resolution supports the Fair Treatment and Immediate Release of the
Haitian Asylum Seekers. After surviving for three weeks at sea without
food or water, 101 Haitians arrived ashore in Hallandale Beach, and were
immediately placed into detention. Current immigration policy demands
detention and deportation for those who arrive by boat. The adoption of this
resolution would join communities in Miami-Dade County, calling upon
federal officers to release from detention the Haitians in order for them to
pursue asylum claims with adequate access to lawyers.
There will be no need for funding or technical assistance.
Please support this resolution for a just cause.
Mayor Shirley Gibson
Vice Mayor Oscar Braynon II
Councilman Melvin L. Bratton
Councilman Aaron Campbell Jr.
Councilman Andr~ Williams
Councilwoman Sharon Pritchett
Councilwoman Barbara Watson
J-4) CONSENT AGENDA
RESOLUTION
FIAITIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS
Resolution No.
RESOLUTION No. 2007-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
GARDENS, FLORIDA, REQUESTING FAIR TREATMENT OF THE 101
HAITIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS WHO RECENTLY ARRIVED ASHORE ON
HALLANDALE BEACH, FLORIDA; REQUESTING THEIR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE FROM DETENTION; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE
CITY CLERK; PROVIDING FOR THE ADOPTION OF
REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
1 WHEREAS, the United States has had a long history of welcoming, with open
2 arms, individuals who have fled their homelands because of political and economic
3 instability, and
4 WHEREAS, Haiti is a country that has been plagued by political and economic
5 instability over several decades, and
6 WHEREAS, over the years, many Haitian migrants have fled their homeland in
7 search of a politically safe haven and a better life in the United States, and
8 WHEREAS, recently 101 Haitian asylum seekers arrived ashore in nearby
9 Hallandale Beach, Florida, after spending three weeks at sea, without food or water on
10 a leaky boat, and
11 WHEREAS, the immigration policy of the United States provides for the
12 immediate detention and deportation of Haitians who arrive to the United States by
13 boat, and
14 WHEREAS, numerous local civic, religious and political organizations have
15 expressed more outrage against the disparate treatment that Haitians have received
16 under the immigration laws of this Country in comparison with other foreign groups, and
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Resolution No.
17 WHEREAS, the civic, religious and political organizations have asked as a matter
18 of fairness and morality for the immediate from detention of the 101 Haitian asylum
19 seekers, and
20 WHEREAS, it has been documented that asylum seekers who are free from
21 detention have a better chance of winning an asylum claim due to adequate access to
22 legal services, and
23 WHEREAS, volunteer bar associations, including the Haitian Lawyers
24 Association, have agreed to provide free legal representation to the Haitian asylum
25 seekers, and
26 WHEREAS, the City Council calls upon our federal officials to release from
27 detention, the 101 Haitian asylum seekers in order for them to pursue their asylum
28 claims with adequate access to legal services, and
29 WHEREAS, the City Council strongly supports the plea made by other
30 organizations for the immediate release of the 101 Haitian asylum seekers,
31 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
32 OF MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
33 Section 1. ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS: The foregoing Whereas
34 paragraphs are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true, and the same are hereby
35 made a specific part of this Resolution.
36 Section 2. REQUEST: The Mayor and City Council of the City of Miami
37 Gardens hereby requests fair treatment and the immediate release of the 101 Haitian
38 asylum seekers who recently arrived on the U.S. shore, in order to permit them to
39 pursue their asylum claims with adequate access to legal services.
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Resolution No.
40 Section 3. INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY CLERK: The City Council hereby
41 directs the City Clerk to send a certified copy of this Resolution to the Honorable
42 George W. Bush, President of the United States, all members of Congress of the United
43 States, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the South Florida delegation of the State of
44 Florida Legislature.
45 Section 4. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Resolution shall take effect immediately
46 upon its final passage.
47 PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI
48 GARDENS AT ITS REGULAR MEETING HELD ON APRIL 25, 2007.
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SHIRLEY GIBSON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
RONETTA TAYLOR, CMC, CITY CLERK
Prepared by SONJA KNIGHTON DICKENS, ESQ.
City Attorney
SPONSORED BY: MAYOR SHIRLEY GIBSON AND COUNCILMAN ANDRE WILLIAMS
MOVED BY:
SECONDED BY:
VOTE:
Mayor Shirley Gibson
Vice Mayor Oscar Braynon, II
Councilman Melvin L. Bratton
Councilman Aaron Campbell
Councilman Andre Williams
Councilwoman Sharon Pritchett
Councilwoman Barbara Watson
SKD/teh
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