Terrorist Victim Citizenship Relief Act

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1801 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1801

To accord honorary citizenship to the alien victims of the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States and to provide
for the granting of citizenship to the alien spouses and children of
certain victims of such attacks.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 11, 2003

Mrs. Maloney (for herself, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Serrano, Mr.
Crowley, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Towns, and Ms. Schakowsky) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To accord honorary citizenship to the alien victims of the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States and to provide
for the granting of citizenship to the alien spouses and children of
certain victims of such attacks.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Terrorist Victim Citizenship Relief
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 11, 2001, the United States suffered a
series of attacks which led to the deaths of thousands of
people.
(2) Hundreds of foreign nationals perished in the attacks
on the American institutions on American soil.
(3) At that time, the Immigration and Naturalization
Service was processing applications for adjustment in
immigration status for immigrants who perished in the attacks.
(4) The immigrant or nonimmigrant status of many immigrant
families depends on the sponsorship of those who perished.
(5) The former Immigration and Naturalization Service
publicly stated that it would not take action against foreign
nationals whose immigration status is in jeopardy as a direct
result of the attack.
(6) The Commissioner of the former Immigration and
Naturalization Service James Ziglar stated that ``the
Immigration and Naturalization Service will exercise its
discretion toward families of victims during this time of
mourning and readjustment''.
(7) Only Congress has the authority to change immigration
law to address unanticipated omissions in existing law to
account for the unique circumstances surrounding the events of
September 11, 2001.

SEC. 3. DECEASED ALIEN VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS DEEMED TO BE UNITED
STATES CITIZENS.

Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as provided in section 5, each
alien who died as a result of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack
against the United States, shall, as of that date, be considered to be
an honorary citizen of the United States if the alien held lawful
status under the immigration laws of the United States as of that date.

SEC. 4. CITIZENSHIP ACCORDED TO ALIEN SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF CERTAIN
VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS.

Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as provided in section 5, an alien
spouse or child of an individual who was lawfully present in the United
States and who died as a result of a September 11, 2001, terrorist
attack against the United States shall be entitled to naturalization as
a citizen of the United States upon being administered the oath of
renunciation and allegiance in an appropriate ceremony pursuant to
section 337 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, without regard to
the current status of the alien spouse or child under the immigration
laws of the United States, if the spouse or child applies to the
Secretary of Homeland Security for naturalization not later than two
years after the date of enactment of this Act. The Secretary of
Homeland Security shall record the date of naturalization of any person
granted naturalization under this section as being September 10, 2001.

SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an alien may not
be naturalized as a citizen of the United States, or afforded honorary
citizenship, under this Act if the alien is--
(1) inadmissible under paragraph (2) or (3) of section
212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, or deportable
under paragraph (2) or (4) of section 237(a) of that Act,
including any terrorist perpetrator of a September 11, 2001,
terrorist attack against the United States; or
(2) a member of the family of a person described in
paragraph (1).
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