Speech #1020208832

Fortunately. he was released and spent 18 days at sea seeking protection in the United States. If the adminstrations policy of returning Haitians without even a screening process had been in effect when the pastor fled Haiti. he might not be alive today to tell his story. The administrations policy to continue its incountry refugee processing program as the only remedy for Haitian refugees minimizes the plight of victims of persecution. The indiscriminate forced repatriation of Haitians is not only deplorable. but in violation of international law. Congress must act now to protect those Haitians who risk an uncertain fate if they are returned to Haiti. We should pass Senator KENNEDYS International Refugee Protection Act which ensures against the forced return of asylumseekers to countries where they would have a wellfounded fear of persecution. In the case of Haitians. the Coast Guard would have to pick up Haitians and provide them with some kind of screening process for refugee status. In response to the tragic situation in Haiti and my belief in the United States moral and humanitarian responsibility to protect those Haitians who have sought refuge in this country. I introduced legislation to provide temporary protected status [TPS] for Haitians. TPS is meant to protect nationals from a designated state who do not fit the textbook definition of "refugee" or "asylee." but need temporary protection from armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions that threaten their safety. In the past 2 years. the administration has granted TPS to nationals from Lebanon. Kuwait. Somalia. and most recently Bosnia.