Resolution 80-16349 RESOLUTION NO. 80-16349
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING PROMPT ACTION BY THE
FLORIDA DELEGATION TO THE U.S. CONGRESS WITH
RESPECT TO REFUGEES.
WHEREAS, during the preceeding six months tens of
thousands of Cuban, Haitian and other Latin American immigrants
have sought refuge in South Florida from political and economic
repression in their native lands, and;
WHEREAS, the vast majority of said refugees are im-
poverished, suffering from disease, unable to communicate in
English, and for other reasons are ill equipped to care for them-
selves in our society, and;
WHEREAS, a significant number of serious crimes have been
and are being committed by a small minority of the refugees, which
have caused unjustified anti-refugee feelings against all such re-
fugees, and has also caused an actual strain on police resources, and;
WHEREAS, said refugees are desperately in need of
medical attention, financial aid, housing and other forms of com-
munity assistance, and;
WHEREAS , the police resources and community assistance
programs of the City of Miami Beach and other South Florida communi-
ties are no longer adequate even to provide necessary services for
their own residents, and;
WHEREAS, the best tradition of the American people is
to accept refugees with kindness and to offer them assistance in
their new land, and;
WHEREAS, under the United States Constitution the
Federal government has the plenary power and the exclusive respon-
sibility for the admission and treatment of refugees and other im-
migrants , which responsibility cannot properly be delegated to the
City of Miami Beach and other local communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMIS-
SION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Florida Delega-
tion of the United States Congress should either immediately pro-
vide increased Federal funds to local communities to assist refugees
in accordance with traditional American values, or else should im-
mediately halt such immigration into Florida.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 6th day of August , 1980
Ma• •r
Attest:
City Cle k
FORM APPROVED
LEGAL DEPT.
TMP :ab
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Date
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY - 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE -MIAMI BEACH,FLORIDA 33139
RESOLUTION NO. 80-16349 ,
(Requesting prompt action by the Florida
Delegation to the U.S. Congress with
Respect to refugees)
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