Speech #1020136117

Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 3844 which would provide for a 6month moratorium on the deportation of Haitian refugees. Haitian refugees have repeatedly suffered from a United States immigration policy that was more concerned with ideology than justice. and one which blatantly assumed that poverty was the sole reason for Haitians to flee to American shores. The United States Supreme Courts recent decision to permit the repatriation of Haitian refugees is only the latest in a series of Injustices laced by Haitian refugees. The administrations blatant relusal to even permit the most minimal protection of temporary protected status or extended voluntary departure shows a blatant disregard for the lives of these refugees. Given the historic mistreatment that Haitian refugees have experienced. one can rightly conclude that the polIcy decisions toward them would have been dramatically different if these refugees were not black. Today. this House has an opportunity to provide humanitarian support to Haitian refugees who are fleeing an atmosphere of violence and repression. I would urge my colleagues to stand up and be counted. In the same manner that we have argued for temporary protection for other ethnic groups during times of political crises in their countries. we should do no less for the Haitian refugees. I would urge my colleagues to adopt this measure without weakening amendments.