Speech #1100198076

They need clean drinking water. they need medication and medical support because we are anticipating and trying to get ahead of any outbreaks of airborne diseases. of mosquitoborne diseases. They need support for those who are struggling with their own health conditions currently. Weve asked the President of the United States to move forward with temporary protected status for Haitians. to halt the deportation of Haitians from the U.S. To send individuals into that environment right now is cruel and unusual punishment. We hope that the administration will heed this call at this time. There are immigration issues. but theres an unprecedented international relief effort going on right now in Haiti. and the last thing that the Nation can do right now is provide for those who are returning deportees. Despite the frequent report of drowning caused by unsafe refugee boats collapsing. the current conditions and crisis in Haiti may trigger an exodus of Haitian immigrants to the United States. Desperate times call for desperate measures. You have desperation climbing each and every day. Since fiscal year 1998. the Coast Guard has interdicted well over 1.000 Haitians each year. Over 1.000 Haitians have already been interdicted in 2008. Temporary protected status is the most inexpensive. immediate form of aid the President can singlehandedly provide. and we ask that he make this possible as soon as possible. There are currently six countries that are protected under TPS provisions: Nicaragua. Honduras. El Salvador. Burundi. Somalia and Sudan. And while other countries under similar circumstances have been afforded relief through TPS. Haiti has been overlooked time and time again. Remittances are currently onethird of Haitis gross national product.