2017-29997 ResolutionRESOLUTION NO.
2017 -29997
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S SANCTIONING OF VENEZUELAN
PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE
RECENT ELECTION TO INSTITUTE A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY; DENOUNCING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S
FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS; DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN VENEZUELA; URGING THE MADURO
REGIME TO RECOGNIZE THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY; SUPPORTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN
VENEZUELA; URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF
HOMELAND SECURITY TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED
STATUS TO VENEZUELAN NATIONALS LIVING IN THE UNITED
STATES; AND APPROVING AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE
ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
WHEREAS, on July 31, 2017, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of
Foreign Assets Control ( "OFAC ") sanctioned the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, and
added him to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals along with seven other members of
the Venezuelan government; and
WHEREAS, due to OFAC's sanctions, all of Maduro's assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction
have been frozen, U.S. persons are prohibited from doing business with him, and Maduro has
been denied access to U.S. financial and commercial systems; and
WHEREAS, Maduro now joins Bashar al -Assad of Syria, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe,
and Kim Jong -un of North Korea as one of only four heads of state across the globe to be
sanctioned in this manner; and
WHEREAS, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin has also warned that any others
who participate in supporting the authoritarian Maduro regime could be exposed to future U.S.
sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes in Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, to further restrict President Maduro's regime and to condemn tyranny and
dictatorship in Venezuela, a new Executive Order was issued by the Trump Administration,
effective August 25, 2017, which bars the purchase in U.S. markets of new securities issued by
the Venezuelan government and its state oil company, and blocks dealing in certain existing
bonds owned by Venezuela's public sector; and
WHEREAS, recently, the Maduro regime called a special national election to institute
and certify a new political body in Venezuela known as the National Constituent Assembly; and
WHEREAS, this new and illegitimate National Constituent Assembly is empowered to
rewrite the Venezuelan Constitution in any way Maduro envisions, including dismantling any
branch of the government; and
WHEREAS, over 120 individuals have died in recent months protesting the Maduro
regime, with 16 such deaths occurring on Sunday, July 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, during the early morning of August 1, 2017, political opposition leaders Leopoldo
Lopez and Antonio Ledezma were taken from their homes by Venezuelan security forces; and
WHEREAS, in May 2016, for the 11th consecutive year, the U.S. Department of State
determined that Venezuela was not cooperating fully with U.S. counterterrorism efforts, noting
credible reports that Venezuela maintained a permissive environment supportive of activities
benefitting known terrorist groups; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 notes
that the Venezuelan government took no action against senior Venezuelan government officials
who were designated under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury for materially assisting the trafficking activities of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); and
WHEREAS, due to the crumbling socioeconomic infrastructure in Venezuela, it is not
safe for Venezuelan nationals to return to Venezuela under current conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has the power to
grant temporary protected status to nationals of certain countries for humanitarian causes and
such status should be afforded to Venezuelan nationals living in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Miami -Dade County and the City of Miami Beach are home to a sizable
population of Venezuelan nationals; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2017, the Miami -Dade County Board of County
Commissioners passed Resolution No. R- 778 -17, and approved correspondence addressed to
United States President Donald J. Trump, disapproving of the Maduro regime; and the County
has repeatedly taken steps to condemn the actions of the Maduro regime, while supporting
diplomatic efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela, pursuant to the adoption of the following
Resolutions:
• Resolution No. R- 253 -14, which condemned the Venezuelan
government for using violence and intimidation against
political opposition and urged the federal government to take
immediate diplomatic action;
• Resolution No. R- 455 -14, which urged the previous U.S.
administration and the Secretary of Homeland Security to
grant temporary protected status to Venezuelan nationals in
the United States;
• Resolution No. R- 526 -17, which urged the federal
government to impose sanctions on officials or persons acting
on behalf of the Venezuelan government whom the President
determined are responsible for, or complicit in, the
commission of serious human rights abuses;
• Resolution No. R- 527 -17, which supported House Resolution
259, a federal resolution expressing concern over and
condemnation of the political, economic, social, and
humanitarian crisis in Venezuela;
• Resolution No. R- 528 -17, which supported H.R. 2161, a bill
entitled the Venezuelan Refugee Assistance Act, which would
allow Venezuelans in the United States to apply for legal
permanent resident status;
• Resolution No. R- 530 -17, which further condemned the
Venezuelan government for using violence and intimidation
against political opposition and continued to urge the federal
government to take immediate diplomatic action; and
• Resolution No. R -777 -17, which urged the federal
government and the State of Florida to support economic
sanctions against the Venezuelan government; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida support
further action designed to hasten the return of democracy to the people of Venezuela; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution also incorporates and approves the attached
correspondence to President Donald J. Trump, which expresses strong disapproval of the
Maduro regime.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby commend the United States Department of the Treasury's sanctioning of
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, denounce the Venezuelan government's failure to
cooperate with international counterterrorism efforts, demand the Maduro regime to release all
political prisoners in Venezuela, urge the Maduro regime to recognize the democratically
elected National Assembly, support a democratic transition in Venezuela, urge President
Donald J. Trump and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary
protected status to Venezuelan nationals living in the United States, approve the attached
correspondence to President Donald J. Trump, and direct the City Clerk to transmit a certified
copy of the attached correspondence to President Donald J. Trump.
PASSED and ADOPTED this a5-. day of September 2017.
ATTEST:
Rafael E. '- na • o, ty I
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTI ! g//
M1AM
BEAcH
Resolutions - C7 W
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: September 13, 2017
SUBJECT A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY'S SANCTIONING OF VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS
MADURO; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE RECENT ELECTION TO
INSTITUTE A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY; DENOUNCING THE
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH
INTERNATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS; DEMANDING THE
RELEASE OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN VENEZUELA; URGING THE
MADURO REGIME TO RECOGNIZE THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; SUPPORTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN
VENEZUELA; URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND
SECURITY TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS T O VENEZUELAN
NATIONALS LIVING I NT H E UNITED STATES; AN DAPPROVING AND
DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, the attached Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the September 13, 2017
Commission meeting.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
a Reso Commending the U.S. Dept of Treasury's Sanctioning of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
Page 613 of 2353
September 13, 2017
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Re: Current Events in Venezuela
Dear Mr. President:
PHILIP LEVINE
MAYOR
The Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, are writing
to convey the City Commission's position on recent events in Venezuela. Specifically,
this City Commission writes to:
1. Commend the United States Department of the Treasury's sanctioning of
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the issuance of your Executive Order,
effective August 25, 2017, imposing economic sanctions against Venezuela;
2. Condemn the results of the recent election in Venezuela to institute a National
Constituent Assembly;
3. Denounce the Venezuelan government's failure to cooperate with international
counterterrorism efforts; and
4. Urge your Administration to grant temporary protected status to Venezuelan
nationals living in the United States.
The current crisis in Venezuela is of great importance to the residents of the City
of Miami Beach (City), which is located in Miami -Dade County ( "County "). Our County is
home to the largest Venezuelan - American community in the United States and our
constituents are troubled by the unfolding of events in Venezuela. Many County
residents have family members still living under the oppressive conditions created by
the Maduro regime. Because of the magnitude of these issues, the Mayor and City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach have passed and adopted the attached
Resolution commending the actions taken by your Administration, and supporting the
above - referenced actions to be taken, to restore democracy to Venezuela.
The sociopolitical climate in Venezuela has only worsened in recent weeks as
President Nicolas Maduro continues his efforts to solidify his power at the expense of
the will of the Venezuelan people. The Maduro regime's silencing and jailing of political
opponents, rampant human rights violations, and the overhaul of Venezuela's system of
CrTY OF MIAMI BEACH
1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE, MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
TEL: (305) 673 -7035 • FAX: (305) 673-7096 • E -MAIL: PHILIPLEVINE @MIAMIBEACHFL.GOV
government is at significant odds with the fundamental values of democracy
championed by the United States. Numerous other democratic nations and American
allies across the globe have voiced similar concerns with the Maduro regime. Further,
the U.S. Department of State determined in its annual Counterterrorism Report that
Venezuela was not cooperating fully with U.S. counterterrorism efforts, noting credible
reports that Venezuela maintained a permissive environment for support of activities
benefitting known terrorist groups.
The Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach condemn the
Maduro regime for its flagrant disrespect of democratic institutions and support the
imposition of sanctions on members of the Maduro regime, denounce the Venezuelan
government's use of violence and intimidation tactics against political opposition, and
urge the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary
protected status to Venezuelan nationals living in the United States.
On July 31, 2017, in response to the results of the sham election creating an
illegitimate National Constituent Assembly designed to abrogate' and rewrite the
Venezuelan Constitution, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned President Nicolas
Maduro, adding him to a list of seven other members of the Venezuelan government
who have been denied access to U.S. financial and commercial systems. Maduro now
joins Bashar al -Assad of Syria, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, and Kim Jong -un of North
Korea as one of only four heads of state across the globe to be sanctioned in this
manner,
The United States is Venezuela's largest trading partner, with an estimated
transfer of over $23.9 billion in goods in 2015 alone. As such, the decisions your
Administration will make with respect to the Maduro regime will greatly shape the
political and social landscape of Venezuela for years to come.
The crisis in Venezuela has reached historic proportions, but the Mayor and City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach believe these issues to be solvable. To that
end, the Mayor and City Commission reiterate its support and commitment to efforts
that restore democracy to the Venezuelan people.
Most respectfull
Philip L in-;' ay 9:((
PROVED AS TO
ORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney Date
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
October 16, 2017
Ambassador Carlos J. Ron
Embassy of Venezuela in the United States of America
1099 30th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
Dear Ambassador Ron,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2017 - 29997:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S SANCTIONING OF VENEZUELAN
PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE
RECENT ELECTION TO INSTITUTE A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY; DENOUNCING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S
FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS; DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN VENEZUELA; URGING THE MADURO REGIME
TO RECOGNIZE THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY; SUPPORTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA;
URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO VENEZUELAN
NATIONALS LIVING I N THE UNITED STATES; AND APPROVING AND
DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of
the City of Miami Beach on September 25, 2017.
If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
October 16, 2017
Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury
Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20220
Dear Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2017 - 29997:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S SANCTIONING OF VENEZUELAN
PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE
RECENT ELECTION TO INSTITUTE A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY; DENOUNCING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S
FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS; DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN VENEZUELA; URGING THE MADURO REGIME
TO RECOGNIZE THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY; SUPPORTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA;
URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO VENEZUELAN
NATIONALS LIVING I N THE UNITED STATES; AND APPROVING AND
DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of
the City of Miami Beach on September 25, 2017.
If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-6737411
October 16, 2017
Honorable Elaine C. Duke,
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
Dear Secretary of Homeland Security Duke,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2017- 29997:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, COMMENDING THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S SANCTIONING OF VENEZUELAN
PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO; CONDEMNING THE RESULTS OF THE
RECENT ELECTION TO INSTITUTE A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY; DENOUNCING THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S
FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH INTERNATIONAL
COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS; DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF ALL
POLITICAL PRISONERS IN VENEZUELA; URGING THE MADURO REGIME
TO RECOGNIZE THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY; SUPPORTING A DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN VENEZUELA;
URGING THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
TO GRANT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS TO VENEZUELAN
NATIONALS LIVING I N THE UNITED STATES; AND APPROVING AND
DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL OF THE ATTACHED CORRESPONDENCE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of
the City of Miami Beach on September 25, 20,17.
If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call.
Respectfully,
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez