Chairman. since the militarys brutal takeover. several thousand Haitians have fled their homeland for asylum in the United States. They have been intercepted by the Coast Guard and are now being detained in camps at Guantanamo Bay. The treatment of the Haitian refugees by the administration has been less than compassionate and stands in stark contrast to our recent reception of 2.000 Cubans who have been given at least temporary safe haven. The events that have taken place in Haiti since last September constitute an extraordinary threat to the lives of any refugees forced to go back. Certainly those Haitians who fled the country as a result of the military coup will be targeted by the de facto government upon their return to Haiti. It Is unconscionable that the administration would adopt a policy that would send these Individuals back to a situation where their lives are In danger. No Haitian should be forcibly returned to Haiti until the democratically elected government has been restored and the safety of the refugees assured. It is for these reasons that I support H.R. 3844. This bill would suspend for 6 months the forced repatriation of Haitian refugees In United States custody as of February 5. It also directs the President to set aside 2.000 refugee admission slots for Haitians in fiscal year 1992. Moreover. the bill requires the administration to report to Congress on the fate of refugees who were intercepted by United States personnel and returned to Haiti. Mr. Chairman.
Keywords matched
refugee refugees