79–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–909 

SEPTEMBER 11 FAMILY HUMANITARIAN RELIEF 

AND PATRIOTISM ACT 

OCTOBER 3, 2008.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. CONYERS, from the Committee on the Judiciary, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

DISSENTING VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 1071] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill 

(H.R. 1071) to provide the nonimmigrant spouses and children of 

nonimmigrant aliens who perished in the September 11 terrorist 

attacks an opportunity to adjust their status to that of an alien 

lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes, 

having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 

amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

The Amendment ...................................................................................................... 2 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 4 

Background and Need for the Legislation ............................................................. 4 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 4 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 7 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 7 

Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .......................................................... 7 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 8 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 8 

Advisory on Earmarks ............................................................................................. 8 

Section-by-Section Analysis .................................................................................... 8 


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Agency Views ........................................................................................................... 10 

Dissenting Views ..................................................................................................... 13 

THE AMENDMENT

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and 

Patriotism Act’’. 

SEC. 2. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF TERRORISM. 

(a) ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The status of any alien described in subsection (b) shall 

be adjusted by the Secretary of Homeland Security to that of an alien lawfully 

admitted for permanent residence, if the alien— 

(A) applies for such adjustment not later than 2 years after the date 

on which the Secretary promulgates final regulations to implement this section; and 

(B) is otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent residence, except in determining such admissibility the grounds for inadmissibility specified in paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of section 

212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) shall not 

apply. 

(2) RULES IN APPLYING CERTAIN PROVISIONS.—In the case of an alien described in subsection (b) who is applying for adjustment of status under this 

section— 

(A) the provisions of section 241(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall not apply; and 

(B) the Secretary of Homeland Security may grant the alien a waiver 

of the grounds of inadmissibility under subparagraphs (A) and (C) of section 

212(a)(9) of such Act. 

In granting waivers under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall use standards 

used in granting consent under subparagraphs (A)(iii) and (C)(ii) of such section 

212(a)(9). 

(3) RELATIONSHIP OF APPLICATION TO CERTAIN ORDERS.—An alien present in 

the United States who has been ordered excluded, deported, removed, or ordered to depart voluntarily from the United States under any provision of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) may, notwithstanding 

such order, apply for adjustment of status under paragraph (1). Such an alien 

may not be required, as a condition of submitting or granting such application, 

to file a separate motion to reopen, reconsider, or vacate such order. If the Secretary of Homeland Security grants the application, the Secretary shall cancel 

the order. If the Secretary renders a final administrative decision to deny the 

application, the order shall be effective and enforceable to the same extent as 

if the application had not been made. 

(b) ALIENS ELIGIBLE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS.—The benefits provided by 

subsection (a) shall apply to any alien who— 

(1) was lawfully present in the United States as a nonimmigrant alien described in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 

1101(a)(15)) on September 10, 2001; 

(2) was, on such date, the spouse, child, dependent son, or dependent 

daughter of an alien who— 

(A) was lawfully present in the United States as a nonimmigrant alien 

described in section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) on such date; and 

(B) died as a direct result of a specified terrorist activity; and 

(3) was deemed to be a beneficiary of, and by, the September 11th Victim 

Compensation Fund of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 40101). 

(c) STAY OF REMOVAL; WORK AUTHORIZATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 

General shall provide by regulation for an alien subject to a final order of removal to seek a stay of such order based on the filing of an application under 

subsection (a). 

(2) DURING CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS.—Notwithstanding any provision of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), the Attorney General 

shall not order any alien to be removed from the United States, if the alien is 

in removal proceedings under any provision of such Act and has applied for adVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:58 Oct 04, 2008 Jkt 079006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\HR909.XXX HR909

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justment of status under subsection (a), except where the Secretary has rendered a final administrative determination to deny the application. 

(3) WORK AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall authorize an alien who has applied for adjustment of status under subsection (a) 

to engage in employment in the United States during the pendency of such application. 

(d) AVAILABILITY OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide to applicants for adjustment of status under subsection (a) the 

same right to, and procedures for, administrative review as are provided to— 

(1) applicants for adjustment of status under section 245 of the Immigration 

and Nationality Act; or 

(2) aliens subject to removal proceedings under section 240 of such Act. 

SEC. 3. CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL FOR CERTAIN IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF TERRORISM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), other than subsections (b)(1), (d)(1), and (e) of section 

240A of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1229b), the Attorney General shall, under such section 

240A, cancel the removal of, and adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted 

for permanent residence, an alien described in subsection (b), if the alien applies 

for such relief. 

(b) ALIENS ELIGIBLE FOR CANCELLATION OF REMOVAL.—The benefits provided by 

subsection (a) shall apply to any alien who— 

(1) was, on September 10, 2001, the spouse, child, dependent son, or dependent daughter of an alien who died as a direct result of a specified terrorist 

activity; and 

(2) was deemed to be a beneficiary of, and by, the September 11th Victim 

Compensation Fund of 2001 (49 U.S.C. 40101). 

(c) STAY OF REMOVAL; WORK AUTHORIZATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 

General shall provide by regulation for an alien subject to a final order of removal to seek a stay of such order based on the filing of an application under 

subsection (a). 

(2) WORK AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall authorize an alien who has applied for cancellation of removal under subsection 

(a) to engage in employment in the United States during the pendency of such 

application. 

(d) MOTIONS TO REOPEN REMOVAL PROCEEDINGS.—Notwithstanding any limitation imposed by law on motions to reopen removal proceedings (except limitations 

premised on an alien’s conviction of an aggravated felony (as defined in section 

101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(43))), any alien 

who has become eligible for cancellation of removal as a result of the enactment of 

this section may file one motion to reopen removal proceedings to apply for such relief. The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General shall designate 

a specific time period in which all such motions to reopen are required to be filed. 

The period shall begin not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act and shall extend for a period not to exceed 240 days. 

SEC. 4. EXCEPTIONS. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an alien may not be provided 

relief under this Act if the alien is— 

(1) inadmissible under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)), or deportable under paragraph (2) 

or (4) of section 237(a) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)), including any individual 

culpable for a specified terrorist activity; or 

(2) a member of the family of an alien described in paragraph (1). 

SEC. 5. EVIDENCE OF DEATH. 

For purposes of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney 

General shall use the standards established under section 426 of the Uniting and 

Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and 

Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 in determining whether death 

occurred as a direct result of a specified terrorist activity. 

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS. 

(a) APPLICATION OF IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT PROVISIONS.—Except as 

otherwise specifically provided in this Act, the definitions used in the Immigration 

and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) (excluding the definitions applicable exclusively to title III of such Act) shall apply in the administration of this Act. 

(b) SPECIFIED TERRORIST ACTIVITY.—For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘specified terrorist activity’’ means any terrorist activity conducted against the Government or the people of the United States on September 11, 2001. 


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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1071, the ‘‘September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and 

Patriotism Act,’’ allows the eligible surviving dependents of nonimmigrant and undocumented aliens who died as a result of the 

terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to become lawful permanent residents of the United States. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

Among the victims of the 9/11 attacks were nonimmigrant foreign nationals and undocumented immigrants. Their deaths left behind husbands, wives and dependent children lacking a legal immigration status and with no way to become legal residents of the 

United States. H.R. 1071, the September 11 Family Humanitarian 

Relief and Patriotism Act, will grant those survivors lawful permanent resident status. 

The bill allows the eligible surviving dependents of nonimmigrant and undocumented aliens who died as a result of the 

terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 to become lawful permanent residents of the United States. H.R. 1071 limits eligibility to 

those survivors who registered with and received compensation 

under the Victims Compensation Fund (VCF). Because the VCF 

stopped accepting applications in December 2003, using the VCF as 

a filter provides for a closed class of individuals in need of adjustment of their status. Under the bill, survivors may not obtain lawful permanent residence if they are criminals or have criminal 

records that would make them inadmissible to the United States, 

nor may they be related to those who perpetrated the horrible terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

HEARINGS

The Committee on the Judiciary held no hearings on H.R. 1071. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 27, 2007, the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law met in 

open session and ordered the bill, H.R. 1071, favorably reported 

without amendment, by a vote of 9 to 3, a quorum being present. 

On August 2, 2007, the Committee met in open session and ordered 

the bill, H.R. 1071, favorably reported without amendment, by a 

rollcall vote of 21 to 10, a quorum being present. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the following 

rollcall votes occurred during the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 

1071. 

1. An amendment offered by Mr. King to limit the number of 

beneficiaries under the Act to twenty. Defeated 11 to 17. 

ROLLCALL NO. 1 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 1—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman .....................................................................................................

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz ....................................................................................

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................

Mr. Smith (Texas) ............................................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly .......................................................................................................

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 11 17 

2. An amendment by Mr. King to require the beneficiaries of the 

Act to demonstrate their presence within the United States on or 

prior to September 10, 2001, and continuously thereafter (with a 

departure period from the country enduring no more than 90 consecutive days, or 180 days in aggregate). Defeated 12 to 20. 

ROLLCALL NO. 2 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 2—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman ..................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................

Mr. Smith (Texas) ............................................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 12 20 

3. A motion to report the bill favorably. Passed 21 to 10. 

ROLLCALL NO. 3 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Conyers, Jr., Chairman ............................................................................... X 

Mr. Berman ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Boucher .......................................................................................................

Mr. Nadler ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Scott ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Watt ............................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Lofgren ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Jackson Lee ................................................................................................ X 

Ms. Waters ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Delahunt ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Wexler ......................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sa ́nchez ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cohen .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Johnson ....................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Sutton .........................................................................................................

Mr. Gutierrez ..................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Sherman ..................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Baldwin ...................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Weiner ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Schiff .......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Davis ........................................................................................................... X 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz .................................................................................... X 

Mr. Ellison .........................................................................................................

Mr. Smith (Texas) ............................................................................................. X 

Mr. Sensenbrenner, Jr. ......................................................................................

Mr. Coble ........................................................................................................... X 


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ROLLCALL NO. 3—Continued 

Ayes Nays Present 

Mr. Gallegly ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Goodlatte ....................................................................................................

Mr. Chabot ........................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Lungren ....................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Cannon .......................................................................................................

Mr. Keller ........................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Issa ............................................................................................................. X 

Mr. Pence ..........................................................................................................

Mr. Forbes ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. King ............................................................................................................ X 

Mr. Feeney .........................................................................................................

Mr. Franks ......................................................................................................... X 

Mr. Gohmert ......................................................................................................

Mr. Jordan ......................................................................................................... X 

Total ................................................................................................ 21 10 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee advises that the findings 

and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does not provide new 

budgetary authority or increased tax expenditures. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee sets forth, with respect to 

the bill, H.R. 1071, the following estimate and comparison prepared 

by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

U.S. CONGRESS, 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, 

Washington, DC, August 16, 2007. 

Hon. JOHN CONYERS, Jr., Chairman, 

Committee on the Judiciary, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1071, the ‘‘September 11 

Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act.’’ 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Mark Grabowicz, who 

can be reached at 226–2860. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG, 

DIRECTOR. 

Enclosure 


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cc: Honorable Lamar S. Smith. 

Ranking Member 

H.R. 1071—September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism Act. 

H.R. 1071 would grant permanent U.S. residence to certain 

spouses and dependents of aliens who died in the terrorist attacks 

of September 11, 2001. Enacting this legislation could affect direct 

spending of immigration fees by the Department of Homeland Security and the cost of certain federal assistance programs. The bill 

would likely affect a small number of persons, however, and CBO 

estimates that enacting H.R. 1071 would have no significant budgetary impact. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues. 

H.R. 1071 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no significant costs on State, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Mark Grabowicz, who 

can be reached at 226–2860. This estimate was approved by Peter 

H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The Committee states that pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H.R. 1071 requires 

the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to 

promulgate expeditiously regulations or other guidance providing 

for the implementation and administration of this Act, and to take 

steps to ensure that each eligible applicant who applies for benefits 

under this Act receives such benefits within 6 months of the date 

of his or application for such benefits. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds authority for this legislation in article I, section 8, clause 4 of the Constitution. 

ADVISORY ON EARMARKS

In accordance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, H.R. 1071 does not contain any congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of Rule XXI. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

The following discussion describes the bill as reported by the 

Committee. 

Sec. 1. Short title. Section 1 sets forth the short title of the bill 

as the ‘‘September 11 Family Humanitarian Relief and Patriotism 

Act.’’ 

Sec. 2. Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonimmigrant Victims 

of Terrorism. Section 2 provides adjustment to ‘‘permanent resident 

status’’ for an individual who, on September 10, 2001, was the 

spouse, child, or dependent child of a lawful nonimmigrant alien 

who died as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks 

against the United States. An applicant must have been deemed to 


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have been a beneficiary of the September 11th Victims Compensation Fund of 2001. There is a 2-year deadline for applying for a 

benefit under this section once the Secretary of Homeland Security 

promulgates regulations. 

Applicants under this section must be otherwise admissible to 

the United States, although the inadmissibility grounds listed in 

paragraphs (4), (5), (6)(A), (7)(A), and (9)(B) of section 212(a) of the 

Immigration and Nationality Act will not apply to applicants under 

this section. Applicants under this section who have been ordered 

excluded, deported, removed, or granted voluntary departure may 

file for and be granted permanent residence without having to file 

a separate motion to reopen their exclusion, deportation, or removal proceedings. 

Section 2 further provides that applicants must be given an opportunity to apply for a stay of removal based on the filing of an 

application to adjust their status to that of a lawful permanent 

resident. The Secretary of Homeland Security must provide work 

authorization to applicants while their applications are pending. 

Sec. 3. Cancellation of Removal for Certain Immigrant Victims of 

Terrorism. Section 3 provides for cancellation of removal and adjustment to ‘‘permanent resident status’’ for an individual who was: 

(1) on September 10, 2001, the spouse, child, or dependent child of 

an alien who died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist 

attacks against the United States; and (2) deemed to be a beneficiary of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. 

It provides that subsections (b)(1), (d)(1), and (e) of section 240A of 

the Immigration and Nationality Act do not apply to applications 

for cancellation of removal filed pursuant to this section. 

Section 3 further provides that eligible applicants may file one 

motion to reopen their exclusion, deportation or removal proceedings, notwithstanding any other limitations on such filing 

(with the exception of limitations premised on an alien’s aggravated felony conviction). Applicants must be given an opportunity 

to apply for a stay of removal based on the filing of an application 

for cancellation of removal under this section. The Secretary of 

Homeland Security must provide work authorization to applicants 

while their applications are pending. 

Sec. 4. Exceptions. Section 4 makes the provisions of the Act inapplicable to an individual who was: (1) inadmissible or deportable 

under criminal or security grounds, including September 11, 2001 

terrorist activity; or (2) a family member of such an alien. This section ensures that applicants will not be granted adjustment of status if they would be otherwise disqualified for certain criminal activities and it clarifies that the bill does not permit issuing immigration benefits to the September 11th hijackers. 

Sec. 5. Evidence of Death. Section 5 provides that the Secretary 

of Homeland Security and the Attorney General use the standards 

established under section 426 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 in 

determining whether death occurred as a direct result of a specified 

terrorist activity. 

Sec. 6. Definitions. Section 6 provides that the definitions used 

in the Immigration and Nationality Act, excluding the definitions 

applicable exclusively to title III of such Act, apply in the administration of H.R. 1071. This section also defines the term ‘‘specified 

terrorist activity’’ to mean any terrorist activity conducted against 


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the Government or the people of the United States on September 

11, 2001. 

AGENCY VIEWS


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(In addition to the Honorable John Conyers, Jr., the preceding 

letter was also sent to the Honorable Lamar S. Smith, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, and the Honorable John A. Boehner.) 


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1Section 403. 

DISSENTING VIEWS

We oppose H.R. 1071, the ‘‘September 11 Family Humanitarian 

and Patriotism Act of 2007.’’ 

HR. 1071 provides lawful permanent resident status or cancellation of removal and permanent resident status to aliens who were: 

(1) on September 10, 2001, the spouse, child, or dependent son or 

daughter of an illegal immigrant or temporary visitor or worker 

who died as a result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks 

against the United States; and (2) deemed to be a beneficiary of, 

and by, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. 

The attacks of September 11, 2001, were heinous acts of international terrorism carried out inside U.S. borders. Over 3,000 individuals were murdered on that day and the entire Nation grieved 

with the families and friends of those who died. 

But sympathy for the loss of a loved one is no reason to grant 

legal immigration status to those who have violated U.S. law to 

enter and remain in the United States. Such a grant is clearly amnesty. 

This issue has been raised previously, most recently during the 

enactment of the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. No. 107–56). The PATRIOT Act gave lawful permanent resident status to the alien 

spouse and children of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents 

who were killed as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During 

PATRIOT Act negotiations, Congress deliberately decided not to 

grant permanent residence to the family members of illegal immigrants or temporary visitors or workers. 

H.R. 1071 predicates adjustment of immigration status on 

whether the illegal immigrant was deemed to be a beneficiary of 

the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. In essence, if the illegal immigrant submitted a claim for, and received 

compensation from, the September 11th Victim Compensation 

Fund of 2001 due to the death or injury of a family member, they 

are eligible for adjustment of status under this bill. 

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 was created by the ‘‘Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization 

Act of 2001’’ (P.L. 107–42). The purpose of the Fund was to ‘‘provide compensation to any individual (or relatives of a deceased individual) who was physically injured or killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001.’’ 1

Supporters of H.R. 1071 state that only 16 people would be affected by this legislation since the eligible class is closed (the deadline for making a claim for compensation under the September 

11th Victim Compensation Fund was December 22, 2003). 

Over 7,300 claims for death or injury were paid out by the Fund 

and over 98% of eligible families of a deceased victim submitted 


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2 Closing Statement from the Special Master, Mr. Kenneth R. Feinberg, on the Shutdown of 

the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund. 3 Rules of Procedure for Private Claims Bills, Subc. On Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, 

Border Security and International Law, Rule 1. 4Letter from Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Steve King to Immigration Subcommittee Chair Zoe Lofgren, Aug. 21, 2007. 

claims.2 The average claim award for a deceased victim was $2,082,127.00. The minimum claim awarded by the fund was 

$250,000 and the maximum claim awarded was $7.1 million. 

Since H.R. 1071 applies to a closed and relatively small group of 

individuals, it is a de facto private relief bill. Committee Members 

are provided with full and complete evidence, including biographical background information, on private relief bill beneficiaries prior 

to the consideration of the bill by the Judiciary Committee.3

Members of the Minority requested, through both oral and written communications, on several occasions specific biographical 

background information regarding the potential beneficiaries of 

H.R. 1071. Specifically the Minority Members requested that the 

following information be supplied separately for each potential beneficiary: 

• City and state or nation of current residence; 

• Date and place of birth; 

• Occupation & current employment; 

• Through what means the person entered the United States 

(ie: crossed the border illegally, entered on a temporary visa, 

etc.); 

• Date on which the person initially entered the United States; 

• Date and duration of any departures from the United States; 

• Amount of monetary award from the September 11 Victim 

Compensation Fund; 

• Country of national origin; 

• Date of birth of any U.S. citizen children; and 

• Any criminal history, including date of arrest, case resolution and penalty served or paid.4

Despite the repeated requests, and assurances from Majority 

Members that the information would be provided, very little information has been provided to the Minority Members as of the time 

we are filing these views. In fact, no information specific to any potential beneficiary was supplied. All Members of the Committee 

should have the opportunity to know exactly who may receive the 

benefit of H.R. 1071. 

Proponents of H.R. 1071 cite as one of the main reasons for supporting the legislation that if these illegal immigrants are deported, they may be put at risk of kidnapping and other crimes involving ‘‘exploitation for their assets.’’ In essence, proponents of 

H.R. 1071 are claiming that because the illegal immigrants are 

now wealthy, they should be granted permanent residency. This 

would seem to set a precedent that wealthy people in countries 

with high rates of crime should receive asylum because of their 

wealth. 

In addition, the results of H.R. 1071 are unfair to the families 

of illegal immigrants or temporary workers of visitors who die each 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
15 

year in the U.S. as a result of accidents, environmental disasters, 

criminal activity or natural causes. 

Enactment of H.R. 1071 would set a precedent should there be 

any future terrorist attacks, or other disasters, in which illegal immigrants or temporary visitors or workers are killed. It will be 

used as justification for similar amnesties in the event of such attacks. 

H.R. 1071 undermines the rule of law and American sovereignty 

with a grant of legal immigration status to those who lost loved 

ones in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, based solely on 

the fact of their loss. While it is certainly understandable, the 

grant of such a benefit will set an unjustified precedent. 

LAMAR SMITH. 

STEVE KING. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS