13525: Archer: FW: WPLG Click10.com - Bush Addresses Haitian Issue At Campaign S top (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Merrie Archer <MArcher@nchr.org>

>From a local news radio in South Florida ...


> Bush Addresses Haitian Issue At Campaign Stop
> Thu Oct 31, 1:21 PM ET
>
> The subject of Haitian immigration seeped into Gov. Jeb Bush's re-election
> campaign today as he passed through South Florida.
>
> The arrival of more than 200 Haitian refugees on Tuesday has highlighted
> immigration issues and forced candidates to address them.
>
> Bush's stop in Aventura was supposed to be an opportunity for him and
> former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) to talk
> about the situation in Israel, but Haitian immigration policy found its
> way into the proceedings.
>
>
> "We need to make sure that we don't have mass migration coming into South
> Florida," Bush said. "There is a way to create a healthy deterrent so
> people don't risk their lives but also treat Haitians the same way that
> other immigrants are to be treated."
>
>
> One Haitian reporter pleaded with Bush to call his brother and intercede
> on behalf of the refugees being held in Immigration and Naturalization
> Service custody. Bush cut the reporter off quickly, according to Channel
> 10 News political reporter Michael Putney.
>
>
> Putney also reported that earlier in the day, while speaking at the
> Turnberry Jewish Center, Bush recalled how he had called his father to
> seek help for endangered Ethiopan Jews in the Sudan.
>
>
> "I called my dad up ... and said, 'Can you please meet with this guy. He's
> passionate about this and it's the right thing to do,'" Bush said.
>
>
> Putney asked Bush about the two situations. The following exchange took
> place.
>
>
> Putney: Some Haitian Americans might say to themselves, "Well, if he
> called his father on behalf of the Ethiopian Jews, why won't he call his
> brother, the president, on behalf of Haitians?"
>
>
> Bush: I have talked to my brother. I have talked to Condoleeza Rice. I've
> talked to the people that are in charge of this policy. And I do not
> believe it is appropriate for immigrants to be able to say if we make it
> to the shore, even though we don't have a well-founded fear of
> persecution, that they should be allowed in our country.
>
>
> Putney reported that Bush has talked to his brother, but not since the
> boat of Haitian migrants came ashore Tuesday.
>
>
> Merrie Archer
> Senior Policy Associate
> (954) 462 8231
>