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Home My WebLink AboutR-82-0058RESOLUTION NO. 8 2 - 5 8 A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE DEPORTATION OF ANDRES RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ, THE FIRST CUBAN TO BE DEPOR- TED SINCE FIDEL CASTRO ROSE TO POWER IN 1959 AND A PERSON REPORTEDLY DENIED DUE PROCESS IN HIS QUEST TO REMAIN IN THIS COUNTRY; FURTHER REQUESTING FROM FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES A CLARIFICATION AND EXPLANATION OF THE DEPORTATION OF ANDRES RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ AS WELL AS REQUESTING AN URGENT AND IMMEDI- ATE SOLUTION TO THE HAITIAN REFUGEE PROBLEM IN THE KROME AVENUE FACILITY; FURTHER ESTABLISHING A CITIZENS FACT FINDING COMMITTEE WHOSE MEMBERSHIP IS TO BE MADE UP OF LEADING COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ORDER TO GATHER ALL CITIZEN COMPLAINTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE JANUARY 16, 1982 PUBLIC MARCH AND DEMONSTRA- TION WHILE REAFFIRMING THE AVAILABILITY OF NORMAL SOURCES TO WHOM CITIZEN COMPLAINTS CAN BE MADE; FURTHER REQUESTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION, IN CON- JUNCTION WITH THE ABOVE CITIZENS FACT FINDING COMMITTEE, TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CITIZENS CONCERNING EVENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 16, 1982 IN AN EFFORT TO CLARIFY ACTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO APPEALING TO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT BY REMAINING CALM AND BY KEEP- ING THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE NOBLE CAUSE OF SOLIDARITY IN THE QUEST FOR THE FREEDOM OF ANDRES RODRIGUEZ HERNANDEZ. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City Commission hereby condemns the depor- tation of Andres Rodriguez Hernandez, the first Cuban depo.`--d since Fidel Castro rose to power in 1959 and who we understand was denied due process in his request to remain in this country. Section 2. The City Commission hereby requests the Federal Immigration Authorities to clarify and explain the circumstances surrounding the deportation of Andres Rodriguez Hernandez and also hereby requests an urgent and immediate solution to the Haitian Refugee problem in the Krome Avenue facility. Section 3. The City Commission hereby establishes a Citizens Fact Finding Committee whose membership shall be made up of leading members of the community in order to gather all complaints in connection with the January 16, 1982 march and public demonstration. Until such time as the herein Committee is functioning, citizens may file their complaints with the Miami Police Internal Security Unit, the State Attorneys Office, or both, and/or with the City Manager. CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF J A N 1 7 1982 MWAM + W....8....... 5 8 ............................ Section 4. The City Commission hereby requests that the City Administration, in conjunction with the herein Citizens Fact Finding Committee, conduct an investigation of the numerous citizen complaints concerning the events of January 16, 1982 in an effort to clarify actions taken and define responsibilities in connection therewith. Section 5. The City Commission hereby appeals to the com- munity to help in this effort by remaining calm and by keeping the lines of communications open in order to preserve the noble cause of solidarity in the quest for the freedom of Andres Rodriguez Hernandez. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of January, 1982. CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA YOR MAURICE A. FERRE V I C L , J 0 E RQ,LL0 �7ISSIONER J. L. PLU ER JR. LQ�� 2 �C�t c-r�Lw✓J COMMISSI ER MILLER J WKINS AFFKUVED AS TU FUKM AND GUKKEGTNESS: GEORGE F. KNOX, JR., CITY ATTORNEY RAkPH G. ONGIE, CITY CLERK -2- 82-58 RALPH G. ONGI City Cler MATTY HIRA Assistant City Cler O DEPUTY CITY le vU u u U CLERK - Robert E. Tingle Georgia M. Littl Ilia Teem Sylvia M. Mendoz Evelio Riz- MICROFILM DIVISIOi Dorothy Brow Domingo Acost January 21, 1982 (BY FEDERAL EXPRESS) Immigration & Naturalization Service of the U.S. Department of Justice 425 I Street Washington, D.C. 20536 Gentlemen: Pursuant to City, ConTnission Is directio closed herein please find a copy of Resolution No.8 58, passed and adopted by the City of Miami Comnissio its Special Meeting called by Mayor Maurice A. Ferre held on Sunday January 17, 1982 in connection with the Downtown disturbance on account of the deportation of Andres Rodriguez Hernandez, which is self-explanatory. RRe itful-L"' Gsubmitted, . ONGIE City Clerk R13aph Encl.a/s OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK/ City Hall / 3500 Pan American Drive / Miami, Florida 33133 / 579-6065 PRESS RELEASE MAYOR MAURICE A. FERRE JANUARY 21, 1982 SUBJECT: Blue Ribbon Committee to Review the Community -Police Relations in the Incident of Saturday, January 16, 1982, with Some Members of the Cuban Community I am today appointing a review committee to investigate and report to the Commission: 1) Its findings of occurrences on Saturday, January 16, incidents where members of the Cuban community publicly INS of Andres Rodriguez Hernandez and the confrontation protesters and the Miami Police Department. 1982, with regard to the protested the deportation by that occurred between the 2) To review any and all accusations of alleged wrong -doing by the Miami Police De- partment, or individual officers, and the Miami Police Department policies and opera- tional performance. 3) Recommend improvement of procedures and policies for future confrontational situa- tions. At this juncture, the committee will not have subpoena powers. I will ask the City Attorney to inform the committee as to the legal constraints with which it will be dealing that includes State Statute, the binding contract that the City has with the Fraternal Order of Police which deals with pertinent issues, and possible criminal issues including the complicated area of immunity. The committee will also receive information and testimony on a voluntary basis from any other interested parties. Civil rights and complicated legal issues are involved and the function of various official agencies of government, such as the Justice Department and the State Attor- ney's Office, must be respected. The City Manager, Howard Gary, is instructed to give the committee proper staff support and, through him and Police Chief, Kenneth Harms, to give the committee the necessary information requested, within the law, so that it may have available all necessary facts to fulfill its charge. Should the committee conclude it is unable to get full and objective information after an appropriate attempt to do so, the City of Miami Commission may constitute itself as a fact-finding board and may exercise subpoena powers. I am confident this ,ill not be necessary. I am asking Mr. Emilio Milian to chair the committee. Since the task of gathering and hearing full information may be tedious and involved because of the many individual allegations of confrontations and accusations, I would recommend that the committee break dorm into subcommittees of five individuals so as to share the burden. The five subcommittee chairmen could consequently meet as an executive board before the full committee concludes. The twenty-five people who have been appointed to this committee represent a cross- section of the community. The names are as follows: (See Press Release Attachment Sheet) It is a large group; larger than I would have wanted, but necessary because of the complexity of the problem. The committee is made up mostly; but not exclusive- ly, of Cubans and Cuban Nuericans. Since the affected parties on the community -side are Cubwns, the majority of the committee is comprised of this ethnic group. If we are to avoid future confrontations, the committee must have credibility. PRESS RELEASE MAYOR MAtiRICE A. FERRE JAWARY 21, 1982 PAGE 1110 I would also like to remind you that the Miami Police Department has its ou n in- vestigatory process, which is functioning at the present time. In addition, the Office of Professional Compliance of the City of Miami, under the City Manager, will also be meeting. The Justice Department and the State Attorney's Office may also be involved in fact finding so I would expect there to be a great deal of activity and cooperation that will facilitate the committee reaching a con- clusion. I would ask that Chairman Milian keep the Commission informed as to its progress at the February llth Commission meeting. It would be my hope that we could re- ceive a preliminary report of the committee's findings and recommendations by February 25, 1982, and the final report by the end of March. NtV : pas PRESS RELEASE MAYOR MAURICE A. FERRE JANUARY 21, 1982 ATTACHMENT BLUE RIBBON CCK4ITTEE APPOINTEES Mr. Emilio 1-1ilian, Chai�na��'� Msgr. Bryan Walsh .ra�•�� Mr. Joaquin Blaya Rev. Martin Anorga ✓ Mr. Jorge Mas Dr. Salvador Lew Mrs. M. Athalie Range r' Mr. Julio Avello — Mr. Vince McGhee ✓ Mr. Robert Cason ✓ Mr. Armando Alejandre l/ Mr. Ernesto de la Fe ✓ Mr. Alberto Martinez-Echeniquet/ Mr. Jack Alfonso r Dr. Mario Goderich ✓ Mr. Jose Navarro ✓ Mr. Emilio Caballero% / Mr. Irving Goldaber -- Mr. Foward Rasmussen Mr. Warren Wepman ✓ Mr. Armando Garrido J Mr. Humberto Quinones Mr. Roberto Rodriguez Aragon%/ Mr. Fausto Lavilla Mr. Leslie Pantin, Jr. # # # # # # # # # # # MAF:ist