File #: Res 0398-2004    Version: * Name: Grant permanent residency to the immediate family members of Amadou Diallo.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Immigration
On agenda: 6/7/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting the passage of H.R. 3735, legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel that would grant permanent residency to the immediate family members of Amadou Diallo.
Sponsors: Hiram Monserrate, Charles Barron, Larry B. Seabrook, Yvette D. Clarke, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, Helen D. Foster, Letitia James, John C. Liu, Margarita Lopez, Annabel Palma, Joel Rivera, James Sanders, Jr., Kendall Stewart, Albert Vann, Robert Jackson, Philip Reed, Eva S. Moskowitz, Gale A. Brewer, Alan J. Gerson
Council Member Sponsors: 20

Res. No. 398

 

Resolution supporting the passage of H.R. 3735, legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel that would grant permanent residency to the immediate family members of Amadou Diallo.

 

 

By Council Members Monserrate, Barron, Seabrook, Clarke, Comrie, Fidler, Foster, James, Liu, Lopez, Palma, Rivera, Sanders, Stewart, Vann, Jackson, Reed, Moskowitz, Brewer and Gerson

 

 

                     Whereas, According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 13.5 million immigrants came to the United States between 1990 and 2000; and

Whereas, Amadou Diallo came to the United States from Guinea in 1996 at the age of 18, with hopes of pursuing an education; and

                     Whereas, On February 4, 1999, Amadou Diallo died after being shot by four New York City police officers who fired 41 bullets, hitting him 19 times; and

                     Whereas, At the time he was shot, Amadou Diallo was unarmed and had no history of crime; and

                     Whereas, Amadou Diallo’s death led to a public outcry against racial profiling and police brutality in New York City and nationwide; and

                     Whereas, Several members of Amadou Diallo’s family travelled to New York after his death, to address their loss in the community in which Amadou Diallo lived; and

                     Whereas, In the United States, the Diallo family founded the Amadou Diallo Educational, Humanitarian and Charity Foundation, which promotes educational opportunities for immigrants and works to end racial profiling and police brutality; and

                     Whereas, Though members of Amadou Diallo’s family wish to remain in the United States permanently and currently reside in New York and Maryland, their temporary visas have expired; and

                     Whereas, The Diallo family has received “deferred action” status from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), but could face deportation proceedings if this status is changed; and

Whereas, While members of the Diallo family have applied for permanent residency, the backlog at USCIS is at an all time high and the process of obtaining permanent residency could take years; and

Whereas, On January 27, 2004, Representative Charles Rangel introduced H.R. 3735, a bill that would give permanent residency to members of Amadou Diallo’s immediate family; and

Whereas, The bill would adjust the status of Amadou Diallo’s parents, siblings, and other close family members to allow them to remain in the United States; and

Whereas, This legislation would enable Amadou Diallo’s three younger siblings to pursue an education in the United States and give his parents and other family members the opportunity to further their work resulting from his tragic death; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the passage of H.R. 3735, legislation introduced by Congressman Rangel that would grant permanent residency to the immediate family members of Amadou Diallo.

 

 

 

 

 

LS#1039

6/2/04

SJS