Meek Again Asks Bush Administration for Protected Status for Haitians

Meek Again Asks Bush Administration for Protected Status for Haitians
Congressman Reiterates Case for Halting Deportations to Troubled Caribbean Nation

WASHINGTON, DC-Today, U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek again called on the Bush Administration to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to Haitian nationals currently residing in the United States - a request that the Administration has ignored since Meek's written appeal eight months ago.

"Haiti is reeling from devastating floods, civil unrest and a seriously crippled economy," Meek said. "This has been the case since last spring, but it is even worse now. The United States has granted temporary protected status under somewhat similar conditions for El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and several other countries. It is long past time to do so for Haiti."

"Overall, the Bush Administration's record on humanitarian issues toward Haitians is deeply disturbing," Meek continued. "The Administration has detained Haitian children, some for over a year, and when a Haitian was released from detention by an immigration judge, the Attorney General himself intervened and had him put back in detention. Even Haitians interdicted at sea, who the Administration agrees would face harm if returned to Haiti, are detained at Guantanamo Bay-some for years-because this Administration hasn't found a country to take them and won't let them enter the United States."

"The case to halt deportations of Haitians is overwhelming; I just hope the Administration will open its eyes on this issue," Meek said.

The devastating rains and flooding, of then Tropical Storm Jeanne, have caused nearly 2,000 deaths with hundreds more missing. The Bush Administration has continued to deport Haitian nationals back to the country, where the government is struggling to cope with the aftermath of this natural disaster. U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged that 17 more Haitians were deported only days after the Jeanne hit the country.

Rep. Meek noted that the Haitian Prime Minister has also written to the Secretary Powell with a formal request. "I wonder what took him so long to request TPS," Meek said, "but that is no excuse for delaying TPS for Haitians. I'm sure someone in this Administration could have picked up the phone and made a call if they had any desire to help keep Haitians from harm."

Meek, who represents the largest Haitian population in the United States, is a member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

The text of Congressman Meek's letter to Secretary Powell follows:

October 4, 2004

Secretary Colin Powell
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Powell:

As I did eight months ago, I write to once again urge the Bush Administration to grant temporary protective status (TPS) to Haitian nationals. In this regard, I strongly support the September 30, 2004 request for TPS made by Haitian Prime Minister Latortue to Secretary Powell, under the authority granted by section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

I wrote to Attorney General Ashcroft and Secretary Ridge in February 2004 urging them to grant Haitian nationals in the United States TPS (see letters attached). At that time, Haiti was reeling because of political upheaval and floods that killed thousands. The Administration had ample justification to act then and should have granted Haitians TPS at that time. However, my request for TPS for Haitians was denied.

Now, an already bad situation in Haiti has become worse. Already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been crippled even more by the catastrophic destruction caused by Hurricane Jeanne. As of today, the toll was more than 2,900 dead or missing and presumed dead. This destruction has severely strained the already meager resources of the government, law enforcement authorities and the United Nations forces in Haiti.

This is no time to deport Haitians from this country back to Haiti, for their safety and welfare during this crisis cannot be guaranteed. Prime Minister Latortue wrote to you requesting TPS on behalf of Haitian citizens, who would incur extreme hardship if returned to a country in such ruins. For these reasons, I renew my call for the granting of TPS to Haitians.

I hope you will grant my request this time and thank you for your kind consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely yours,

S/

KENDRICK B. MEEK
Member of Congress