LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION calling upon the Department of Homeland Security
to create a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program, which would
benefit Haitians recovering from the January 12, 2010, earthquake by
allowing Haitians with approved family-sponsored immigrant visa
petitions to come to the United States

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to call upon the
Department of Homeland Security to create a Haitian Family Reunification
Parole Program, which would benefit Haitians recovering from the January
12, 2010, earthquake by allowing Haitians with approved family-sponsored
immigrant visa petitions to come to the United States; and
WHEREAS, New York State is home to one of the largest Haitian popu-
lations in the nation; and
WHEREAS, On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude
earthquake that killed approximately 250,000 people, left more than one
million homeless and injured, and left the nation with limited access to
potable water and food; and
WHEREAS, Haitians living in New York State were devastated by the news
of the January 12, 2010, earthquake and extremely concerned for the
well-being of their family members still living in Haiti; and
WHEREAS, On January 21, 2010, President Barack Obama issued an execu-
tive order to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to eligible
nationals of Haiti, and on May 17, 2011, Janet Napolitano, Secretary of
the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced the extension of
TPS for eligible Haitians for an additional 18 months; and
WHEREAS, At the end of 2010, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) approved 105,193 Haitians' petitions for TPS; and
WHEREAS, In response to the mere fraction of those Haitians who are in
need and who are being helped by TPS, immigrant and human rights advo-
cates have called upon DHS to utilize the Immigration and Nationality
Act's humanitarian parole authority in order to allow Haitians with
approved visas to immigrate to the United States without having to wait
up to 11 years; and
WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the following
categories of immigrant visa applicants from Haiti are on the waiting
list as of November 2010: 15,584 unmarried sons and daughters of United
States citizens; 16,216 spouses and children of permanent residents;
26,238 unmarried sons and daughters (21 years of age or older) of perma-
nent residents; an unspecified number of married sons and daughters of
United States citizens; and 37,244 brothers and sisters of adult United
States citizens; and
WHEREAS, USCIS-approved family-based visa petition beneficiaries
already have a family support system in place, making it less likely
that they would require or avail themselves of public benefits; and
WHEREAS, The Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program would permit
Haitian beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant petitions to
wait in the United States, rather than in Haiti, for their visa priority
dates to become current; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of the Haitian Family Reunification Parole
Program would be to hasten family reunification and to discourage
Haitian nationals from resorting to illegal and dangerous means of
migration into the United States; and
WHEREAS, Broad support exists for the creation of a Haitian Family
Reunification Parole Program, including a February 29, 2012 resolution
passed by the New York City Council; a May 5, 2011 resolution passed by
the Council of the City of Philadelphia; a June 14, 2010 resolution
passed unanimously by the U.S. Conference of Mayors; and a letter to DHS

Secretary Janet Napolitano from the U.S. House Committee on Foreign
Affairs Chairman and seven other House members; and
WHEREAS, DHS has the authority to promptly create and implement a
Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
call upon the Department of Homeland Security to create a Haitian Family
Reunification Parole Program, which would benefit Haitians recovering
from the January 12, 2010, earthquake by allowing Haitians with approved
family-sponsored immigrant visa petitions to come to the United States;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security.