Speech #980137711

Mr. Speaker. while I support the committees bill for continuing a refugee program. I must take issue with the administrations supposed commitment to the internationalization of refugee problems. In the committee report. the U.S. coordinator for refugee affairs devoted a great deal of his testimony to the internationalization issue. Oddly enough. the administration seems unable or unwilling to internationalize refugee problems when it comes to Haitian nationals. I am referring specifically to the case of a Haitian who was deported by the Immigration and Naturalization Service on July 14. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had requested a simple delay of the deportation until they could complete their negotiations with the Government of France for resettlement in that country where the refugee had relatives. Obviously. a simple delay was too great a request for the Immigration Service since the Haitian was deported with the statement on his final deportation orders that he could "emigrate to France from Haiti" if he desired to do so. It seems to me. Mr. Speaker. that as signatories to the U.N. protocol relating to refugees. which prohibits the return of refugees to a country where they would face persecution. we should welcome offers for resettlement in other countries. In particular. where an international organization. such as UNCHR. makes a bona fide offer for resettlement in another country. we should willingly accept their assistance rather than rushing to expel refugees from the United States. I might add. Mr. Speaker. that our Embassy in PortauPrince has been unable to verify the safety of the aforementioned individual. Again. while I continue to support a refugee program for this country. actions like those I just described and the continuing mistreatment of Salvadoran asylum applicants. makes it difficult for me to believe that the Refugee Act can ever be administered in a nondiscriminatory manner.e