Last Saturday. an incredible 246 men. women. and children were found packed like human sardines into a single sailboat. The Bush administration has responded by asking democratic Caribbean governments to accept some of the refuges. while seeking to return others to PortauPrince. Under the current circumstances. it is immoral fzr the administration to repatriate refugees by force to Haiti. We have an obligation to provide at least temporary sanctuary to those fleeing a repressive and undemocratic regime. The administration is right. however. to fear the possibility of a massive boatlift from Haiti if the current crisis is not resolved. Were that to occur. thousands more Haitians surely would drown. It is essential. therefore. that we move beyond the debate over the treatment of refugees to a debate over how we alter the conditions that create refugees. Haiti must be made safe for Haitians once more. We must work with Haitian leaders in that country and in the exile community here in the United States to restore democracy and subsequently to provide emergency humanitarian assistance. encourage private investment. and institutionalize respect for human rights.
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refugees