[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 51 Introduced in House (IH)]







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;
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
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
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,  That the Congress disapproves 
the rule submitted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the 
Department of Homeland Security relating to a requirement that aliens 
lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States, and 
issued a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) between 1979 and 1989, 
apply for a new card during a 120-day filing period, and such rule 
shall have no force or effect.
                                 <all>