15791: (Hermantin) Miami-Herald-South Florida delegation pushes Haitian causes in D.C. (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Thu, Jun. 05, 2003

South Florida delegation pushes Haitian causes in D.C. mission
BY FRANK DAVIES
fdavies@herald.com

WASHINGTON - About 30 Haitian Americans and political leaders from South
Florida launched a two-day lobbying campaign Wednesday to win attention and
support for several Haitian issues.

They had limited success with a key House Republican, Rep. Clay Shaw of Fort
Lauderdale.

Shaw told Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jimmy Morales, state Rep. Yolly
Roberson, D-North Miami, and a dozen others that he hopes for success this
fall with a bill providing a trade break for Haiti designed to increase jobs
in that country's apparel industry.

He wants to divert some of the $15 billion in a recently passed AIDS bill
for orphanages in Haiti to ``save the lives of children living on the
streets.''

But despite impassioned pleas from several local leaders, Shaw said he was
sticking with his ''hands-off approach'' to the Justice Department's
decision to block the release of all Haitian asylum-seekers for national
security reasons.

Roberson and community leader Marleine Bastien complained that even those
Haitians with valid asylum claims recognized by a judge are being held under
Attorney General John Ashcroft's policy.

''This is unprecedented, and I urge you to think of the children who are
being held,'' Bastien said.

Shaw responded: ``You're very persuasive -- but I didn't say I was
persuaded.''

Citing the poverty and lack of jobs in Haiti, Shaw said he wanted to focus
on improving the lives of Haitians.

''I can understand why many people are coming over [to Florida] -- I would
do the same,'' he said.

Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and Commissioner Katy Sorenson may join the
delegation today when it meets with Homeland Security officials on
immigration issues, said a spokesman for Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami
Democrat.

The group also plans to meet with Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, and
Republicans on committees that handle immigration.

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail