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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Terrorist Victim Citi-
zenship Relief Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) On September 11, 2001, the United States 
suffered a series of attacks which led to the deaths 
of thousands of people. 
(2) Hundreds of foreign nationals perished in 
the attacks on the American institutions on Amer-
ican soil. 
(3) At that time, the Immigration and Natu-
ralization Service was processing applications for ad-
justment in immigration status for immigrants who 
perished in the attacks. 
(4) The immigrant or nonimmigrant status of 
many immigrant families depends on the sponsor-
ship of those who perished. 
(5) The former Immigration and Naturalization 
Service publicly stated that it would not take action 
against foreign nationals whose immigration status 
is in jeopardy as a direct result of the attack. 
(6) The Commissioner of the former Immigra-
tion and Naturalization Service James Ziglar stated 
that ‘‘the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
will exercise its discretion toward families of victims 
during this time of mourning and readjustment’’. 
(7) Only Congress has the authority to change 
immigration law to address unanticipated omissions 
in existing law to account for the unique cir-
cumstances surrounding the events of September 11, 
2001. 
SEC. 3. DECEASED ALIEN VICTIMS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS 
DEEMED TO BE UNITED STATES CITIZENS. 
Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as pro-
vided in section 5, each alien who died as a result of a 
September 11, 2001, terrorist attack against the United 
States, shall, as of that date, be considered to be an hon-
orary citizen of the United States if the alien held lawful 
status under the immigration laws of the United States 
as of that date. 
SEC. 4. CITIZENSHIP ACCORDED TO ALIEN SPOUSES AND 
CHILDREN OF CERTAIN VICTIMS OF TER-
RORIST ATTACKS. 
Notwithstanding title III of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), and except as pro-
vided in section 5, an alien spouse or child of an individual 
who was lawfully present in the United States and who 
died as a result of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack 
against the United States shall be entitled to naturaliza-
tion as a citizen of the United States upon being adminis-
tered the oath of renunciation and allegiance in an appro-
priate ceremony pursuant to section 337 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act, without regard to the current
status of the alien spouse or child under the immigration 
laws of the United States, if the spouse or child applies 
to the Secretary of Homeland Security for naturalization 
not later than two years after the date of enactment of 
this Act. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall record 
the date of naturalization of any person granted natu-
ralization under this section as being September 10, 2001. 
SEC. 5. EXCEPTIONS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an 
alien may not be naturalized as a citizen of the United 
States, or afforded honorary citizenship, under this Act 
if the alien is—
(1) inadmissible under paragraph (2) or (3) of 
section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act, or deportable under paragraph (2) or (4) of sec-
tion 237(a) of that Act, including any terrorist per-
petrator of a September 11, 2001, terrorist attack 
against the United States; or 
(2) a member of the family of a person de-
scribed in paragraph (1).
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