Speech #1020121770

But so far. the administrations definition of burdensharing seems to be to accept only 75 Haitians. while urging other governments to accept the remaining thousands. Clearly. until the administration demonstrates its seriousness by taking a fair share of the Haitian boat people. we cannot expect other governments in the region to take seriously our calls for a regional response. For the moment. the courts have properly stepped in and restrained the administration from its rash policy of sending Haitian refugees back to the abhorrent conditions they risked their lives to flee. I urge the administration to reject its cruel policy of forcibly returning the Haitians. The United States should be intervening on behalf of the boat people instead of against them. Failure to assist them may well result in their further oppression in Haiti. It will also undermine our authority to speak up on behalf of other refugees in other parts of the world who face similar tragic circumstances in the future.e