Mr. President. I am pleased to join with my colleagues Senator SIMON. of the Immigration Subcommittee. and Senator DECONOINI of the full Judiciary Committee in introducing legislation to protect Haitian refugees from forced return to Haiti. The bill which we introduce today is identical to legislation sponsored by the distinguished chairman of the House subcommittee. Congressman RoMANO MAZZOLI. and which was adopted by the House Judiciary Committee just this morning. In introducing this legislation. we demonstrate our resolve to protect the Haitian boat people from being forcibly returned to Haiti until it is safe. Mr. President. a bipartisan staff mission from our Immigration Subcommittee returned earlier this week from Haiti and Guantanamo where they looked into the issue of the boat people. They found extensive repression in Haiti. and that the instruments of military control are firmly in place. I am hopeful that the administration will give urgent attention to finding ways to protect Haitians rather than forcibly deport them to an uncertain fate.
Keywords matched
Immigration refugees