16899: (Hermantin) Sun-Sentinel--Bill would assist Haitian immigrants (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Bill would assist Haitian immigrants

-- WILLIAM E. GIBSON
Posted October 4 2003

WASHINGTON · Concerned about the threat of deportation for many Haitian
immigrants, Rep. Kendrick Meek introduced a bill on Thursday to make it
easier for more Haitians to become permanent U.S. residents.

The bill would expand the 1998 Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act,
which made it possible for those who lived in this country since Dec. 31,
1995, to become lawful permanent residents without applying for a visa at
U.S. consulates abroad.

Almost 38,000 Haitians nationwide sought refuge under this law, but
immigration advocates say thousands of applications are still pending and
many children will become adults before their parents' cases are decided.
Many are subject to deportation in the meantime. The current law also
excludes Haitians who arrived via aircraft using false documents, which some
arrivals said was necessary to flee turmoil in Haiti without resorting to a
hazardous sea voyage.

Meek, D-Miami, wants to ease some of these restrictions and expand the law
by covering most Haitians who arrived by plane. His bill would forbid
deportation of Haitians with pending applications or of children who reach
adulthood while the government is drafting rules and processing their
parents' cases.

Advocates for tighter immigration control oppose Meek's bill because they
fear it will encourage illegal migrations.




Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

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