Haitians seeking US refuge will be returned

Source: Associated Press

MIAMI – U.S. authorities are readying for a potential influx of Haitians seeking to escape their earthquake-wracked nation, even though the policy for migrants remains the same: with few exceptions, they will go back.

So far, fears of a mass migration have yet to materialize. However, conditions in Haiti become more dire each day and U.S. officials don't want to be caught off guard.

Between 250 and 400 immigration detainees are being moved from South Florida's main detention center to clear space for any Haitians who manage to reach U.S. shores, according to the Homeland Security Department. The Navy base at Guantanamo Bay could house migrants temporarily — far from suspected terrorists also being held there — and the Catholic church is working on a plan to accept Haitian orphans.

Homeland Security spokesman Sean Smith said Monday that orphans who have ties to the U.S. — such as a family member already living here — and Haitians evacuated for medical reasons are among those who can gain special permission to remain in the U.S.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100118/ap_on_re_us/us_haiti_mass_migration

You know, because the Cubans are escaping the REAL crisis.


:sarcasm:

Source: James C. McKinley Jr., The New York Times

MIAMI — America has a message for the millions of Haitians left homeless and destitute by last week’s earthquake: Do not try to come to the United States.

Every day, a United States Air Force cargo plane specially equipped with radio transmitters flies for five hours over the devastated country, broadcasting news and a recorded message from Raymond Joseph, Haiti’s ambassador in Washington.

“Listen, don’t rush on boats to leave the country,” Mr. Joseph says in Creole, according to a transcript released by the Pentagon. “If you do that, we’ll all have even worse problems. Because, I’ll be honest with you: If you think you will reach the U.S. and all the doors will be wide open to you, that’s not at all the case. And they will intercept you right on the water and send you back home where you came from.”

Homeland Security and Defense Department officials say they are taking a hard line to avert a mass exodus from the island that could lead to deaths at sea or a refugee crisis in South Florida.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/us/19refugee.html

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I can't decide what's worse right now, being trapped in a poor country that's suffered a heavy natural disaster, or being denied access to the nearby economic powerhouse that sent so much in aid. Is there any legal alternative to coming onshore by boat?

all the money in the world won't buy you a heart.

bastards!!!

why don't they flee TO Cuba?

and in some cases, trained them as medical personnel.

They do flee to Cuba.

This an article by David Lindorff who correctly noticed that Cuba's contribution to the relief effort has gone almost unmentioned in our press. And even he gets it a little wrong. He says the CSM correctly reported that 30 doctors were dispatched to Haiti. Actually, there was already a Cuban medical mission on the ground before the earthquake and they set up the first field hospital -- on the following day.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x29354

That Canada would take them.. ??

to the U.S. When they did come here during the seventies and eighties to flee political persecution they were locked up and treated like criminals.

It is shameful for the U.S. to waste time doing this while people are dying and in need of water and medical care.

This was a note written by Haitians who were detained in 1981 in Puerto Rico. It is heartbreaking to read and to see that they believed their treatment was due to racism:

http://www.jstor.org/pss/1229010

We are asking why you treat us this way. Is it because we are Negroes? Why are you letting us suffer this way, America? Do you have a father's heart? Haven't you thought we are humans, that we had a heart to suffer with and a soul that could be wounded? Give us back our freedom. Why among all the nations that emigrate to the United States have only the Haitians known such suffering?

There have been calls for protected status for Haitians over the past number of years. Refugees fleeing political persecution from several other countries have been granted Protected Status. Why not Haitians?

This, of course, is how Guantanamo Bay originally became a gigantic prison: it was used to house Haitian refugees

The other day they were saying we would welcome them. Now, it's go away. No wonder they are so pissed off. I would be too. Hearing one thing and then another has got to be frustrating. Who's in charge of the final decisions?

That's right, Americans: You needn't bother your beautiful empty minds about the prospect of actual refugees--"huddled masses," "yearning to be free," people whose lives have been hell--disturbing your privileged lazy-ass selfish existence.

Don't worry, the scary-ass black people who have nothing will not be allowed to share in the bounty built by 4 centuries of theft, slavery, genocide, plunder, war, and illegal/immoral meddling in the affairs of other countries. Americans' biggest concerns will continue to be which channel to watch (all still controlled by a remote! no need to even stir from the couch!), which brand of frozen food to nuke, which football team to root for, which garment to wear from overflowing closets, where to put all their stuff (and which "organizers" to buy for it), paper or plastic.

USA USA USA!!! ME ME ME, MINE MINE MINE!!!

The last line reads "so long as you come from Cuba and make it all the way here."

The wet-foot/dry-foot policy requires the US Navy and Coast Guard to patrol the sea lanes between the US and Cuba looking for any Cubans attempting to flee to the US. If they catch them, they return them to Cuba. Only Cubans who make it all the way to the US are given citizenship.

And as to the person with the snark: given the choice of living in Cuba or Haiti, which would you do?

I vividly remember heart wrenching newscasts showing Haitian boat people being turned back despite their desperate condition.

What could possibly be the reason for such despicable actions?
Why are they afraid of Haitian refugees?
WHY?

I swear, we are long past due a good cathartic revolution. :mad: