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Legislation
Resolution: R-21-0394
File Number: 10802
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 9/23/2021
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT
JOSEPH R. BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION TO HALT DEPORTATION
FLIGHTS TO HAITI AND TO OFFER A FAIR AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION
PROCESS BY SUPPLYING FOOD, TENTS, AND APPROPRIATE SANITATION
FACILITIES TO PRESERVE THE HUMAN DIGNITY AND HEALTH OF
HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS AWAITING PROCESSING AND THAT THEY BE
AFFORDED A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD TO DETERMINE
IF THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THE PROTECTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES;
CONDEMNING ANY ABUSIVE TREATMENT TO HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS AT
THE TEXAS BORDER; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY
OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS STATED HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Jeffrey Watson
WHEREAS, Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and has long suffered
through political instability, financial difficulties, violence, hurricanes, and earthquakes; and
WHEREAS, Haiti's President Jovenel Moise was assassinated earlier this summer on
July 7, 2021; and
WHEREAS, on August 14, 2021, Haiti experienced a 7.2 earthquake, which caused
large-scale damage across the country's southern region, destroying over 120,000 homes and
taking more than 2,200 lives; and
WHEREAS, Haitians have emigrated in record numbers to the United States' southern
border to escape the political, environmental, and economic turmoil currently plaguing the
country; and
WHEREAS, President Joseph Biden's administration announced on September 18,
2021, that it will swiftly begin deporting Haitians who have gathered at the southern border
beginning September 26, 2021; and
WHEREAS, human rights activists have urged President Biden and his administration to
halt deportation flights to Haiti and promptly return to the United States any Haitians who were
eligible for temporary protective status ("TPS") and wrongly deported since May 21, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is particularly sympathetic to Haiti's pain because
the hardworking Haitian community has so positively impacted the diverse cultures of the City
and because the City is acutely aware of the dire needs of Haiti's population; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to join these human rights activists in their call to urge
President Biden and his administration to halt deportation flights to Haiti and to offer a fair and
humane immigration process by supplying food, tents, and appropriate sanitation facilities to
preserve the human dignity and health of Haitian immigrants awaiting processing and that they
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 10802 (Revision:) Printed On: 1011412021
File ID: 10802 Enactment Number: R-21-0394
be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard to determine if they are entitled to the
protections of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City condemns any abusive treatment towards Haitian immigrants at the
Texas Border; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 2-33(f) of the City Code, the City Commission,
by a majority vote, hereby deems this Resolution to be of an emergency nature;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission urges President Biden and his administration to halt
deportation flights to Haiti and to offer a fair and humane immigration process by supplying food,
tents, and appropriate sanitation facilities to preserve the human dignity and health of Haitian
immigrants awaiting processing and that they be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard
to determine if they are entitled to the protections of the United States.
Section 3. The City Commission condemns any abusive treatment toward Haitian
immigrants gathered at the Texas Border.
Section 4. The City Commission directs the City Clerk to transmit a copy of this
Resolution to President Joseph Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Speaker of the House
of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the Senate, each Senator and Representative from
Florida in the Congress of the United States, and Acting Director of the United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency Tae D. Johnson.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
1
i 4nalndez, ity Attor ey 10/7/2021
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 10802 (Revision:) Printed on: 1011412021