Speech #1020116541

Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the gentleman from New York for bringing this important issue before us today on the current United States immigration policy toward Haitian refugees. As you are well aware. Mr. Speaker. for the last 10 years. this Congress has had under review United States immigration policy toward Haitians. During that time period. the Congressional Black Caucus hoped that various policy and legal changes would provide equitable treatment for Haitians who fled to our shores seeking refuge. Tragically. regardless of the administration in the White House or the laws on the books Haitians have continually faced discriminatory treatment. The 1980 Refugee Act established a uniform standard for refugees and political asylees: "a wellfounded fear of persecution .* " We removed the requirement that you had to be from a Communist country in order to be admitted as a refugee Into the United States. Yet. despite this change in our refugee law. Haitians still found themselves denied due process and jailed in Federal prisons around the country while Cuban refugees were welcomed into Miami. Even with the governments designation of "CubanHaitian entrant" status. Haitians still found themselves without the same benefits as Cubans with this same status. It was certainly our hope and expectation that the election of President JeanBertrand Aristide would bring democracy and social justice to Haiti and thus end the necessity of Haitians to flee their homeland. During the first months of President Aristides term of office. we in fact saw fewer Haitian boat people. The recent military coup has again increased the flow of Haitian refugees. In other Instances. where there has been civil strife. we have permitted the nationals of those countries to enter the United States and be processed for political asylum or to be given the temporary status of extended voluntary departure. We have done this for Poles.