“US is Remaining Adamant as Detained Haitians Press Appeals for Asylum” Summarized by Matthew Reid
The detention policy toward Haitian illegal immigrants is under fire. A few weeks ago President Reagan received a letter signed by 38 female detainees––their plea for liberty. Miami Attorney General William French Smith responded by saying that the eight-month hold policy toward detaining Haitians will remain and reminded people that they are free to leave the detention and go home. The US position is that the 2200 Haitians in detention fled economic deprivation which does not qual! ify them for asylum.
A two-pronged attack on Haitian immigration has significantly slowed the inflow of the islanders. The first step was to stop “sponsoring out” immigrants to families and churches in the region. Secondly, a coast guard cutter was placed on patrol between Cuba and Haiti and its presence has stemmed efforts to leave the country.
Up until this September, Haitians arriving illegally in the US received a quick a hearing and then were sent home. This process has been stopped as lawyers on behalf of the immigrants are working to put a suit together. The suit will ask that Haitians are allowed to go free and stay in the US. The lawyers are confident of a victory. If they lose, the Haitians are afraid that when they are returned they’ll be seen as traitors and subsequently beaten, imprisoned, and possibly killed. Meanwhile, in the detention centers 33 women are on hunger strike and many more suffer from depression.
Mayor Maurice Ferre of Miami is in favor of allowing the Haitians to go free. He cites the discrepancy in policy toward Mexican immigrants versus Haitians. The defenders of Haitians feel that the islanders, in comparison! to other immigrants, are discriminated against and are not given the same chance to stay within the US.