Unfortunately. it has become obvious that those In power have failed to negotiate in good faith and take seriously the international communitys commitment to restore democracy to Haiti. This most recent setback has made it painfully clear to me that it is time to put some action behind our words. In consultation with the negotiators from the United Nations and the Organization of American States. the United States should immediately take steps. including freezing assets and suspending the visas of coup supporters. to respond to the regimes intransigence. This would increase pressure on the regime. strengthen the negotiators efforts and clearly demonstrate our commitment to the restoration of President Aristide with little cost to the United States. The United States could also tighten enforcement of the Organization of American States embargo by using the Coast Guard to clamp down on smuggling out of the Miami River. Ironically. we have been far more effective at stopping refugees fleeing Haiti than enforcing the embargo. In addition to these immediate actions. the United States should begin preparing multilateral measures to heighten pressure on the regime. The OAS embargo demonstrated the resolve of countries in this region. but it failed because many of our trading partners outside the hemisphere continued to do business with Haiti.
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refugees visas