Speech #960183942

Mr. Speaker. it is only recently that the Nation has been provided with information regarding the situation of Haitian refugees in this country. The tragedy of these brave people who have faced a hostile sea. potential political reprisals against themselves and their families is really just emerging. As my colleague. Congresswoman SHIRLEY CHISHOLM. who heads the Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Haitian Refugees has pointed out. these refugees face even greater hazards and hardships when they arrive at our shores. Many are poor and uneducated. they are fleeing a regime which violates their human rights. yet they arrive here to be imprisoned. denied due process. denied the opportunity to work and. finally. denied the status of a political refugee in most cases. The Haitian boat people must be treated with dignity and justice. They must not be discriminated against because they are black and poor. They must be given asylum and the opportunity to work even as their asylum claims are being heard. The process under which asylum claims have been heard are a shame and a sham. Where once 10 asylum claims were heard each day. now about 150 are heard in a day. There is no reasonable opportunity to present a refugees case. even where a lawyer is present. Asylum hearings and deportation proceedings are conducted simultaneously and lawyers are neither permitted to ask clarifying questions or contest the summary of the interviews. 99 percent of Haitian refugees are denied asylum. Why does this Nation distinguish between the oppression of Eastern European nations and the oppression of rightwing regimes? Why can we suddenly find a means to admit thousands of Vietnamese refugees. but keep passing the buck between legislative and executive branches on the Haitian refugees? Mr. Speaker. the United States must again be the beacon of hope for the immigrants fleeing oppression in Haiti as it has been the beacon of hope for those fleeing oppression around the world in the past. I urge. the Congressional Black Caucus urges. that the Congress and the President. immigration officials and the courts. act to protect and preserve the rights and the lives of the courageous Haitian boat people.O o 1720