13610: Craig-Article: President: Treat Haitians just like other immigrants (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dan Craig <dgcraig@att.net>

Posted on Fri, Nov. 08, 2002
President: Treat Haitians just like other immigrants
BY ALFONSO CHARDY AND JACQUELINE CHARLES
achardy@herald.com

President George W. Bush, whose administration last December adopted a
policy that treats Haitians differently from other migrants awaiting
asylum hearings, said Thursday that he would make sure Haitians are
treated the same as everyone else.

The surprise comment was in response to a question that came at the end
of a news conference dominated by talk of Iraq and Tuesday's elections.

''First of all, the immigration laws ought to be the same for Haitians
and everybody else, except for Cubans,'' Bush said.  "And the
difference, of course, is that we don't send people back to Cuba because
they're going to be persecuted, and that's why we got the special law on
the books as regards to Cubans."

"But Haitians and everybody else ought to be treated the same way, and
we're in the process of making sure that happens.''

Under current policy, Haitians -- unlike migrants from any other country
-- can be detained indefinitely while they await asylum hearings.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service fears that releasing Haitians
on bond would spark a mass exodus from the troubled country. A wave of
boats carrying Haitian migrants to U.S. shores, more tightly guarded
since Sept. 11, 2001, threatens national security, INS officials said.

Barbara González, an INS spokeswoman, would not comment on Bush's
comments or whether they would have an effect on the Haitians' cases in
immigration court.

Advocates for the migrants said they were encouraged by Bush's remarks.

''If he indeed believes Haitians should be treated like everybody else,
he should make a swift policy and release the Haitians from custody or
pave the way so the refugees could be released from custody,'' said
Marleine Bastien, executive director of Haitian Women of Miami.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/haiti/4470290.htm