Clemard Joseph Charles which recently appeared in the New York Times. Mr. Charles. the chairman of the Federation for the Reunification of Haiti. rightly criticizes the Reagan administrations disturbing policies toward Haitian refugees. Once again. the administration is demonstrating its racism by treating Haitians so morbidly differently than Cuban and Asian refugees. denying political asylum to thousands of Haitian refugees fleeing from tyranny and oppression. Just last week. the administration issued an Executive order authorizing the Coast Guard to intercept and turn around ships off the coast of Haiti that are suspected of carrying illegal immigrants. This proposal was formulated under an agreement with the Haitian Government. and will result in the return of many Haitians to the brutal human rights atrocities perpetrated by President Duvalier. Those Haitians who have succeeded in arriving in the United States to the promise of freedom and liberty are being sent to detention centers throughout the country. including some in cold northern climates.
Identified stereotypes
The administration is accused of racism in treating Haitian refugees differently than Cuban and Asian refugees.