Res. No. 1609 Title Resolution calling on President Clinton to veto the fiscal 2001 appropriations bill for the departments of Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary if it fails to include support for the provisions contained in the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, Number S.2912. Body By Council Members Clarke, Carrion, Malave-Dilan, Fisher, Henry, Reed and Rodriguez; also Council Members Eisland, Koslowitz, Nelson and Quinn Whereas, Voting upon the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary appropriations bill will soon be completed by the United States Congress, and then shall be presented to President Clinton for either his signature into law or veto; and Whereas, The Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, if enacted, would stabilize the immigration status of specific groups of immigrants who have been living, working, raising their families, and contributing to the United States for many years, yet living here for nearly two decades while fighting the bureaucracy and courts for permanent legal residency status; and Whereas, Under the proposed Act, those refugees who fled the civil wars of Central America and the Caribbean during the past two decades, yet did not receive asylum as did certain other similarly situated groups during this same time period, would now in large part be granted the legal status they so justly deserve; and Whereas, The sweeping immigration legislation passed in 1996 neglected to consider and update the January 1, 1972 registry cutoff date, the proposed Act would provide undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States since before January 1, 1986 with permanent residency status; and Whereas, The proposed Act would restore Section 245(i) of the Immigration Act, which would allow immigrants to remain in the United States while they are in the process of obtaining their legal status, while now, immigrants may be forced to leave the country until their status is formally decided, even when they have been working and supporting their families who are living in the United States; and Whereas, The Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act has been introduced at a time when our country is experiencing record demand for workers at all levels of the economy, and many of the immigrants affected by the proposed Act are essential workers helping to fulfill this need; and Whereas, Normalizing the status of these essential immigrant workers will ensure that they continue to contribute to our economy, pay their fair share of taxes, and remain with their families, thereby keeping our nation strong; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on President Clinton to veto the fiscal 2001 Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary appropriations bill if it does not include support for the provisions of the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act. LS 3533