IA 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 51 

Disapproving the rule submitted to the Congress by U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services requiring certain lawful permanent residents to 

apply for a new Permanent Resident Card. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 

Mr. BACA introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Disapproving the rule submitted to the Congress by U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services requiring certain 

lawful permanent residents to apply for a new Permanent 

Resident Card. 

Whereas between 1979 and 1989, the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice issued 

Permanent Resident Cards (Form I–551), commonly referred to as a ‘‘green card’’, without expiration dates to 

aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the 

United States; 

Whereas in August 1989, the Immigration and Naturalization Service began issuing new cards with a 10-year expiration date and required permanent resident aliens to 

apply periodically for a new card; 


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•HJ 51 IH 

Whereas U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the 

Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule to 

require lawful permanent residents issued cards between 

1979 and 1989 to apply for a new Permanent Resident 

Card (Form I–551) during a 120-day filing period; 

Whereas the rule proposes that affected lawful permanent 

residents file an Application to Replace Lawful Permanent Residence Card (Form I–90) in order to replace 

their current ‘‘green card’’, as well as pay a filing fee and 

a biometric fee for photographs and fingerprints; 

Whereas under the rule, the Secretary of Homeland Security 

would be able to terminate permanent resident cards 

without an expiration date via a notice published in the 

Federal Register following the 120-day replacement period; 

Whereas any lawful permanent resident 18 years of age or 

older is required to carry a valid permanent resident 

card, and failure to do so can result in a fine or imprisonment; 

Whereas lawful permanent residents with cards subject to 

termination who do not read the Federal Register may 

not know about the replacement requirement, and may 

unknowingly continue to carry an invalid card; 

Whereas U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has not 

provided adequate notice to affected aliens or justified 

the short 120-day filing period; 

Whereas U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suffered from a lack of transparency and stability in its operations and policy development; 

Whereas the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services rule 

will affect 750,000 permanent residents; and 


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Whereas the mechanism for terminating affected green cards 

via notice in the Federal Register alone is unjust, given 

that failure to comply with the replacement requirements 

can result in a fine, imprisonment, or possible removal: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That the Congress disapproves the rule submitted by U.S. 

4 Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department 

5 of Homeland Security relating to a requirement that aliens 

6 lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United 

7 States, and issued a Permanent Resident Card (Form I– 

8 551) between 1979 and 1989, apply for a new card during 

9 a 120-day filing period, and such rule shall have no force 

10 or effect. 

Æ 


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