Res. No. 184
Title
Resolution calling upon the President of the United States and the Attorney General to grant Temporary Protected Status to victims of violence in Colombia who are now living in the United States.
Body
By Council Members Monserrate, Fidler, Dilan, Baez, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, Davis, Diaz, Foster, Jackson, Jennings, Katz, Lopez, Martinez, McMahon, Nelson, Perkins, Reed, Reyna, Rivera, Rodriguez, Seabrook, Sears, Serrano, Stewart, Weprin, Liu, Gerson and Boyland; also Council Members Vann and Sanders
Whereas, People of Colombian heritage constitute an important and integral part of the population of the City of New York and of the State of New York; and
Whereas, Presently in Colombia there is ongoing internal armed conflict and as a result, an estimated two hundred thousand Colombians have been displaced and are presently residing in the United States, principally in the City and State of New York; and
Whereas, Many Colombians entered the United States on six-month tourist visas that have since expired, leaving them without legal status and in fear of being deported back to the violent conditions from which they fled; and
Whereas, The Attorney General is empowered to designate that a country qualifies for Temporary Protected Status when he or she determines that "there is an ongoing armed conflict within the state and, due to that conflict, return of nationals to that state would pose a serious threat to their personal safety"; and
Whereas, Tens of thousands of Salvadorans, Liberians, Sierra Leoneans, and others from countries of conflict have benefited from this protection; and
Whereas, With thousands of Colombians killed every year, hundreds of thousands displaced annually, and thousands of others kidnapped or subjected to extortion, Colombia should qualify for a Temporary Protected Status designation, a view even shared by the Colombian government; and
Whereas, Granting Temporary Protected Status to Colombians in the United States is the only way to provide the protection they so desperately need; and
Whereas, Due to such armed conflict, there exist extraordinarily perilous conditions within Colombia which prevent Colombians from safely returning to their homeland; and
Whereas, Requiring Colombians present in the United States to return to Colombia at this time would pose a serious threat to their personal safety; and
Whereas, The people of the City of New York possess a tremendous humanitarian spirit and have always expressed their solidarity with individuals from other nations who undergo suffering; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the President of the United States and the Attorney General to grant Temporary Protected Status to victims of violence in Colombia who are now living in the United States.