I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 609

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 permanent resident status to the alien spouses and 

children of certain victims of such attacks. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 5, 2003

Mr. PALLONE 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 permanent 

resident status 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 of 2003’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress makes the following findings: 
2

•HR 609 IH 

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 Immigration and Naturalization Serv15 ice has publicly stated that it does not intend to take 

16 action against foreign nationals whose immigration 

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

18 (6) Commissioner of the Immigration and Nat19 uralization Service James Ziglar stated that ‘‘the 

20 Immigration and Naturalization Service will exercise 

21 its discretion toward families of victims during this 

22 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-
3

•HR 609 IH 

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. 1101 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. PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS ACCORDED TO 

14 ALIEN SPOUSES AND CHILDREN OF CERTAIN 

15 VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS. 

16 Notwithstanding the Immigration and Nationality 

17 Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.), and except as provided in 

18 section 5, an alien spouse or child of an individual who 

19 was lawfully present in the United States and who died 

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

21 against the United States shall be granted status as a per22 manent resident alien, without regard to the current sta23 tus of the alien spouse or child under the immigration laws 

24 of the United States, if the spouse or child applies to the 
4

•HR 609 IH 

1 Attorney General for permanent resident status not later 

2 than two years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

3 SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS. 

4 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an 

5 alien may not be afforded honorary citizenship or granted 

6 permanent resident status, under this Act if the alien is—

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

8 section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 

9 Act, or deportable under paragraph (2) or (4) of sec10 tion 237(a) of that Act, including any terrorist per11 petrator of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack 

12 against the United States; or 

13 (2) a member of the family of a person de14 scribed in paragraph (1).

Æ