HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

118

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THAT the United states CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES CONSULT WITH FILIPINO national LONGLINE FISHERS SEEKING TO ENTER HAWAII CONCERNING NONIMMIGRANT VISA OPTIONS.

 

 

WHEREAS, Filipino national longline fishers have been an important part of Hawaii's longline fishing industry for over a decade and now comprise more than half of the industry's workers; and

WHEREAS, approximately two hundred fifty Filipino nationals are recruited by Hawaii-based companies on a one-year contract basis to fill the crews of longline fishing expeditions operating throughout waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands; and

WHEREAS, Filipino national fishers fill an employment void in the State, as longline fishing companies have been unsuccessful in recruiting locally; and

WHEREAS, Filipino fishers are invaluable to Hawaii's fishing industry, having been trained specifically for longline fishing and contributing additional skills, including navigation, cooking, and performing mechanical and electrical repairs; and

WHEREAS, in October 2002, the former United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (now known as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) prohibited Filipino nationals hired as longline fishers with C-1 transit visas from entering Hawaiian ports; and

WHEREAS, the former United States Immigration and Naturalization Service routinely granted C-1 visas to foreign fishers in the past; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and its Honolulu District Director are requested to: consult with Filipino national longline fishers to assess the impact of the decision of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to prohibit Filipino national longline fishers with a C-1 visa from entering Hawaiian ports; to provide information concerning alternative nonimmigrant visas that might appropriately be applied for and granted; and to explore possible extension of visa provisions applicable to fishing vessels in Guam; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Inc. is requested to serve as liaison in communications with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services concerning this matter, which may include consultation with representatives of the longline fishing industry and others with specialized knowledge of the working conditions of non-United States citizens employed in Hawaii's longline fishing industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Director of its Honolulu District Office, to the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, Inc., and to the Hawaii Longline Association.

Report Title:

Requesting the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to consult with Filipino national longline fishers seeking to enter Hawaii regarding nonimmigrant visa options.