HomeMy WebLinkAboutres1997-066WHATCOM CO UNTY CO UNCIL AGENDA BILL
NO. 1997 - 346 A
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Orig. Dept.: County Council
10/9/97
10/21/97
Public Works 1 Council
Division Head:
Dept. Head:
Prosecutor: D6
r c l .Zry/s7
Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT:
Resolution support Amend Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigrant Resp. Act 1996
ATTACHMENTS
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
Related County Contract #: Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/N) N Requested Date:
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final -action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
1997 -346A 10/7/97: Introduced
10/21/97: Approved 7 - 0. Res. #97 -066
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
`�es.� 97 -ococ,
1 immitmt.res 10/08/97 SPONSORED BY: CONSENT
2 PROPOSED BY: BRENNER
1 INTRODUCTION DATE: 10/7/97
2 RESOLUTION NO. 97 -066
3 SUPPORTING AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 110 OF THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
4 REFORM AND IMMIGRANT RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996
5 WHEREAS, the United States and Canada have long enjoyed an open border; and
6 WHEREAS, under our present system, Canadians who enter the United States as tourists or
7 business visitors are exempt from processing and fee requirements; and
8 WHEREAS, entry into. the United States is accomplished quickly and efficiently by
9 answering the questiomof immigration and/or customs officials at our border; and
10 WHEREAS, our efficient entry/exit system will dramatically deteriorate unless Section 110
11 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 is amended; and
12 WHEREAS, Section 110 requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to develop an
' 3 automated entry and exit system for the purpose of documenting every aliens arrival to and exit from
.L4 the United States; and
15 WHEREAS, Section 110 fails to recognize the continuous practice of not requiring most
16 Canadians to register with I94 documents at the border for entry; and
17 WHEREAS, in 1996, over 116 million people entered the United States by land from
18 Canada, 76 million of those being Canadian or United States residents; and
19 WHEREAS, more than $1 billion in trade of goods and services cross the United
20 States /Canada Border each year, contributing to the enormous traffic flow; and
21 WHEREAS, implementation of the entry and exit procedures would make border congestion
22 intolerable; and
23 WHEREAS, problems with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility
24 Act of 1996 can be corrected by amending Section 110 through the passage of HR 2481 and S 1205,
25 exempting Canadians and certain landed immigrants of Canada from the statutes paperwork and fee
26 requirements; and
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WHEREAS, all communities located near the United States /Canada Border will face
irreparable financial disaster should Congress fail to modify Section 110.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council supports
amending Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
through the passage of HR 2481 and S 1205.
APPROVED this 21 day of October , 1997
TTEST:
-Da ' , erk of the Coun it
12 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
13
14 Civil Deputy Prosecutor
Dan Gibson
- WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
AL. O LINTY, WASHINGTON
d son, Council Chair
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