I 

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.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Terrorist Victim Citi5 zenship Relief Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 
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1 (1) On September 11, 2001, the United States 

2 suffered a series of attacks which led to the deaths 

3 of thousands of people. 

4 (2) Hundreds of foreign nationals perished in 

5 the attacks on the American institutions on Amer6 ican soil. 

7 (3) At that time, the Immigration and Natu8 ralization Service was processing applications for ad9 justment in immigration status for immigrants who 

10 perished in the attacks. 

11 (4) The immigrant or nonimmigrant status of 

12 many immigrant families depends on the sponsor13 ship of those who perished. 

14 (5) The former Immigration and Naturalization 

15 Service publicly stated that it would not take action 

16 against foreign nationals whose immigration status 

17 is in jeopardy as a direct result of the attack. 

18 (6) The Commissioner of the former Immigra19 tion and Naturalization Service James Ziglar stated 

20 that ‘‘the Immigration and Naturalization Service 

21 will exercise its discretion toward families of victims 

22 during this time of mourning and readjustment’’. 

23 (7) Only Congress has the authority to change 

24 immigration law to address unanticipated omissions 

25 in existing law to account for the unique cir-
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1 cumstances surrounding the events of September 11, 

2 2001. 

3 SEC. 3. DECEASED ALIEN VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS 

4 DEEMED TO BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS. 

5 Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Na6 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as pro7 vided in section 5, each alien who died as a result of a 

8 September 11, 2001, terrorist attack against the United 

9 States, shall, as of that date, be considered to be an hon10 orary citizen of the United States if the alien held lawful 

11 status under the immigration laws of the United States 

12 as of that date. 

13 SEC. 4. CITIZENSHIP ACCORDED TO ALIEN SPOUSES AND 

14 CHILDREN OF CERTAIN VICTIMS OF TER15 RORIST ATTACKS. 

16 Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Na17 tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as pro18 vided in section 5, an alien spouse or child of an individual 

19 who was lawfully present in the United States and who 

20 died as a result of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack 

21 against the United States shall be entitled to naturaliza22 tion as a citizen of the United States upon being adminis23 tered the oath of renunciation and allegiance in an appro24 priate ceremony pursuant to section 337 of the Immigra25 tion and Nationality Act, without regard to the current 
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1 status of the alien spouse or child under the immigration 

2 laws of the United States, if the spouse or child applies 

3 to the Secretary of Homeland Security for naturalization 

4 not later than two years after the date of enactment of 

5 this Act. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall record 

6 the date of naturalization of any person granted natu7 ralization under this section as being September 10, 2001. 

8 SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS. 

9 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an 

10 alien may not be naturalized as a citizen of the United 

11 States, or afforded honorary citizenship, under this Act 

12 if the alien is—

13 (1) inadmissible under paragraph (2) or (3) of 

14 section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 

15 Act, or deportable under paragraph (2) or (4) of sec16 tion 237(a) of that Act, including any terrorist per17 petrator of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack 

18 against the United States; or 

19 (2) a member of the family of a person de20 scribed in paragraph (1).

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