STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1635

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 224

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 224, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO EXAMINE AND RE-EVALUATE ITS POLICIES REGARDING REFUGEE AND ASYLEE PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-REFOULEMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Homeland Security, through its United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, to examine and reevaluate its policies regarding refugee and asylee protections, including the principle of non-refoulement.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from fourteen individuals.

     Your Committees find that non-refoulement is a fundamental principle of international law that protects refugees and asylees from forcible removal to face persecution in their countries of origin.  Your Committee further finds that the United States is legally obligated to enforce the principle of non-refoulement as it is a signatory of several international treaties and has passed the Refugee Act of 1980.  This measure is important to ensure fair, equal, and compassionate treatment of refugee and asylum seekers by the United States.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 224, H.D. 1, and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair