HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-17-0608City of Miami
Resolution R-17-0608
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 3331 Final Action Date: 12/14/2017
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING PRESIDENT
DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE 115TH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
TO REINSTATE TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS ("TPS") TO HAITIANS
AND AFFECTED CENTRAL AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS FROM EL SALVADOR,
HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA RESIDING IN THE UNITED STATES;
FURTHER URGING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP AND THE 115TH
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO EXTEND TEMPORARY
PROTECTIVE STATUS TO VENEZUELANS FLEEING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THEIR COUNTRY; FURTHER URGING PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
TO EITHER REINSTATE OR EXTEND THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR
CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS ("DACA") PROGRAM AND FURTHER URGING THE
115TH CONGRESS TO ADOPT THE LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO
PERMANENTLY PROTECT "DREAMERS;" DIRECTING THAT THIS
RESOLUTION BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY OF MIAMI'S 2017-2018 FEDERAL
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS AS STATED
HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Keon Hardemon,
Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner Wifredo (Willy) Gort, Commissioner Joe
Carollo, Commissioner Manolo Reyes
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, Central Americans from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua have
suffered turmoil similar to Haiti's; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") recognizes that since 1999, crime in Venezuela
has skyrocketed, private corporations have been seized, media outlets and democratic
institutions have been threatened, and human rights have been trampled upon; and
WHEREAS, Temporary Protective Status ("TPS") suspends the deportation of
undocumented persons residing in the United States; and
WHEREAS, TPS also allows the granting of work permits effective for up to eighteen
(18) months; and
WHEREAS, Haitian workers in the United States support relatives in Haiti with
remittances to them from the United States, which support is estimated to be more than $1
billion; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 3331 (Revision: A) Printed On: 3/27/2025
File ID: 3331 Enactment Number: R-17-0608
WHEREAS, TPS would only apply to Haitians already in the United States and could
combat massive waves of migration by keeping working Haitians in this country so they can
continue to earn money to clothe, feed, and house relatives in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, Venezuelans living in the United States will suffer terrible humanitarian
consequences under physical, moral, and psychological hardships if they are removed and
returned to Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, Venezuelans who have fled to the City are now an integral part of the City's
cultural fabric and are vital to our region's economic growth due to the countless businesses
Venezuelan residents have started and millions of dollars invested into our community; and
WHEREAS, the City has more than a 70% Hispanic/Latino population, many of whom
are Venezuelans and many of whom have an expired immigration status; and
WHEREAS, on June 15, 2012, the United States Department of Homeland Security
("DHS") issued a memorandum, entitled "Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with Respect to
Individuals Who Came to the United States as Children" which established the program known
as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA"); and
WHEREAS, DACA provided certain undocumented persons who entered the United
States before the age of sixteen (16), also known as Dreamers, a period of deferred action and
eligibility to request employment authorization; and
WHEREAS, on September 5, 2017, DHS issued a new memorandum rescinding the
June 15, 2012 memorandum to initiate the orderly phasing out of the DACA program; and
WHEREAS, because the City is home to many unauthorized immigrants, including
Haitians, Venezuelans, El Salvadorians, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans, the timing is now right to
make it a priority to keep families together and urge President Donald J. Trump and the United
States Congress to grant TPS in favor of the affected immigrants and to extend DACA;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission urges President Donald J. Trump and the 115th
Congress of the United States to reinstate TPS to Haitians and affected Central American
immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua residing in the United States.
Section 3. The City Commission further urges President Donald J. Trump and the 115th
Congress of the United States to extend TPS to Venezuelans fleeing the circumstances of their
country.
Section 4. The City Commission further urges President Donald J. Trump to either
reinstate or extend the DACA program and further urges the 115th Congress to adopt legislation
necessary to permanently protect Dreamers.
Section 5. The City Manager is directed to include the reinstatement and extension of
TPS and DACA as discussed herein to the City's 2017-2018 Federal Legislative Priorities.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 3331 (Revision: A) Printed on: 3/27/2025
File ID: 3331 Enactment Number: R-17-0608
Section 6. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the
President and Vice -President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to the members of Florida's
Congressional delegation, and to the thirty-five (35) municipalities that comprise the Miami -
Dade League of Cities.
Section 7. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
_ndez, ity Attor
ey 1/26/2018
'If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 3331 (Revision: A) Printed on: 3/27/2025