Speech #960183940

JeanClaude Duvalier. in 1971 meant the virtual continuation of the regime of terror. During this whole period. the United States ignored the conditions in Haiti. Since 1972 some 8.000 Haitian refugees have come to the United States seeking political asylum. There can be little doubt about their legitimate claims in seeking such status. Yet the U.S. Government. through the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). has consistently denied them recognition of their claims. Over 600 Haitian refugees already have been sent back under the socalled policy of voluntary return. a policy that effectively coerced them to return. The others have been subjected to harassment and the denial of the most basic protections of due process. Just as the United States for so many years ignored the conditions existing in Haiti. the Government today refuses the Haitian refugees the equality of treatment accorded to other groups of refugees. In the past year INS has stepped up its campaign to deport the Haitian refugees. Many have not been told of their rights to legal counsel and the availability of free counsel. Mass deportations hearings involving hundreds of refugees at a time have been held. Attorneys for the refugees. too few in number to represent adequately their clients. have also been intimidated by INS. including obstruction of their role in counseling their clients during the deportation proceedings. The discriminatory treatment of Haitian refugees has to stop. The Attorney General. who has the authority to grant the Haitians political asylum. at a minimum should move to stay all proceedings against the refugees until the situation is thoroughly reviewed and the pending lawsuit challenging existing proceedings is disposed of in the courts. In the meantime. the Attorney General should instruct INS to provide the refugees with all legal protections. including facilitating their communication with the Haitian Refugee Center in Miami. To do anything less under the circumstances and given the tragic history of the Haitian people would be utterly contrary to our professed commitment to human rights in the world.e