Resolution 001A-1993
Co~nissioner Earl Cheal
RESOLUTION NO. 001 -1993
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
CLINTON TO RECONSIDER HIS
ON HAITIAN REFUGEES.
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
REQUESTING PRESIDENT-ELECT
PLANS TO RELAX RESTRICTIONS
WHEREAS, President-Elect Clinton has stated his intent to
relax the restrictions on Haitian refugees during his campaign
and preparation to take the office of President of the United
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States of America; and
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WHEREAS, news reports have indicated that~intell!gencie
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sources, in the anticipation of the relaxed restrictions, R~dict
a mass influx of Haitian refugees into Southeast Florida Bn 0+
about Inauguration Day, January 20, 1993; and
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WHEREAS, the people of Monroe County recognize the very
difficult living conditions in
Haiti, which would
prompt
extensive emigration to any land receiving the emigrants; and
WHEREAS, Haitian refugees have historically landed in the
Florida Keys which, subject to weather conditions, is a highly
probable point of landfall for many refugees from the islands of
the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys and Monroe County are not equipped
with the security forces, transportation, feeding, housing and
medical support facilities and services to handle a mass influx
of Haitians or any other group of refugees; and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department is already
operating under adverse conditions as a result of the significant
amount of personnel and other resources provided to Dade County
in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew and, in Monroe County,
policing of the increased crime in the Upper Keys related to the
adverse conditions in South Florida and out-of-County
construction workers who are working on the hurricane
reconstruction effort, which hurricane-related security and
policing requirements have not been compensated by FEMA funds,
thereby creating an additional financial burden for the Sheriffls
Department and Monroe County; and
WHEREAS, during the winter months, the Florida Keys
population grows by about 50% as a result of seasonal residents
and visitors which pushes existing infrastructure and services to
maximum capacity and an influx of refugees would overburden all
those capabilities, now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. That the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners hereby requests President-Elect Bill Clinton to
reconsider his proposal to relax the restrictions on refugees
and, as an alternative, consider exporting assistance to Haiti,
or providing a planned emigration-assistance program which would
provide for the transportation of refugees to communities
throughout the United States and which would provide the
additional infrastructure, social services and other resources
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necessary for said emigrants
so that any foreign
policy
generosity does not unduly and inequitably burden any single
community of this United States.
Section 2.
That the Clerk of this Board is hereby directed
to forward immediately a certified copy of this resolution to the
President-Elect of the United States, the Governor of the State
of Florida, the Monroe County State Legislative Delegation, and the
Monroe County National Congressional Delegation.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a special meeting of said Board held
on the 13th day of January, 1993.
Mayor London Yes
Mayor Pro Tern Cheal Yes
Commissioner Harvey Yes
Commissioner Freeman Yes
Commissioner Reich Yes
(Seal)
Mayor/Chairman
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK
ByJb~ I.lJC.IDv~
Deputy ClA!rk
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