Speech #930133779

Mr. Speaker. on September 26. the House passed the Immigration and Nationality Act amendments. Portions of this bill modify the present definition of refugee by expanding it to include conditional entry for political refugees from any country in the world. The current law restricts refugees to those who have fled communisms or certain defined areas in the Middle East. Furthermore. this preferential system only extends to Eastern Hemisphere nations. With the exception of Cubans who flee their homeland. an alien cannot qualify as a refugee if he is a native of a Western Hemisphere country. Miami. on the southern tip of Florida. has been the touchstone of liberty during the last few months for persons fleeing the brutal regime of Duvaller in Haiti. There have been no freedom flights for these refugees. They have come to Miami at the risk of their lives in small boats. Yet. if they finally reach Miami safely. the U.S. Government is less than cordial to them. For some reason. the Immigration and Naturalization Service has determined that these Haitians do not meet the guidelines for political refugees. I reject this reasoning. The persecution of peoples under Communist regimes is no different in quality than persecution by nonCommunist. dictatorial governments. During the last week of September. 62 Haitians arrived in Miami after being rescued from a sinking boat. The INS began deportation proceedings. and the Haitians are now appealing. I believe that in light of the proposed legislation. and the indication of the clear intent of the House. INS should suspend its proceedings.