18615: (Hermantin) Sun-Sentinel-Suspend deportations, groups implore Bush (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Suspend deportations, groups implore Bush

By Sandra Hernandez and Alva James-Johnson
Staff Writers
Posted February 14 2004

Miami · As the violence and death toll mounted in Haiti, local
immigrant-rights group and activists in South Florida on Thursday called on
the Bush administration to declare a temporary halt to deportations to the
Caribbean nation

"We need a moratorium on all the deportations," said Marleine Bastier of the
Haitian Women of Miami. "We are hopeful that finally our voices will be
heard by an administration that has been reluctant to act."











Bastier's comments followed an afternoon meeting between the Haitian
American Grassroots Coalition and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in Little Haiti.

While much of the meeting was focused on Nelson's pledge to get more support
from President Bush to restore peace to Haiti, activists asked the
Democratic senator to intervene on behalf of those Haitians in immigration
limbo amid unconfirmed reports that a hunger strike was under way at a
Broward County detention facility.

On Wednesday, some of the 65 women being held at the Broward Transitional
Center told a paralegal they feared for their lives if returned to Haiti
during the current crisis.

"They were very upset that anyone would be deported to Haiti right now with
all the violence going on," said Charu Newhouse al-Sahli, an advocacy
coordinator for the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center. As of Friday,
al-Sahli could not confirm a strike was under way. She said concern was
sparked by the deportation of one of the women back to Haiti earlier this
week.

Immigration officials denied any problems at the facility but did
acknowledge they were monitoring the intake of food by Haitian women at the
detention center.

"There is no hunger strike," said Nina Pruneda, a spokeswoman for the U.S.
Immigrant and Customs Enforcement, the agency that overseas the detention
center. "Three of the women received notification Wednesday that loved ones
in Haiti had died, and they are mourning the loss of these relatives."

Officials at the center called the rumors "bogus," adding, "What they're
doing is part of their culture and their grieving," said Jon Dobre, the
facility administrator.

But a West Palm Beach radio station said it had reports that a hunger strike
was under way.

Bob Louis Jeune, a Haitian radio talk show host on 980 AM and 92.5 FM, said
he had received calls Friday from women at the Broward center who said they
were tired of being detained indefinitely and wanted to know what the United
States planned to do with them now that there is a possibility of a new
influx of refugees.

"We're hearing that they're going to open up Guantanamo Bay for 50,000
Haitians," said Jeune.

Pruneda could not provide information about the exact number of Haitians
currently being detained at Broward and Miami facilities.

Local activists, however, estimate that in addition to the women in Broward,
at least 60 Haitians are being detained in the Miami area, including 11
unaccompanied minors, Al-Sahli said.

For his part, Nelson limited his comments on immigration matters, promising
to raise the issue with the Bush administration. "I'm going to discuss it
when I see Secretary of State Colin Powell," said Nelson.

The Bush administration could grant temporary protective status or deferred
enforcement deportations of Haitians. Both measures are short-term stays and
could last as little as a few months.

"It is entirely appropriate to grant temporary protections in cases of civil
unrest," said Jeanne Butterfield, executive director of the American
Immigration Lawyers Association, in Washington, D.C. "Certainly the
situation in Haiti is one of incredible unrest."

She said similar protection was granted to Salvadorans, Guatemalans,
Liberians and others during conflicts in those countries.

But as of late Friday afternoon, federal immigration officials said the
deportations of Haitians would proceed as planned.

"The question is can we safely remove them, and while there are problems in
some parts it is not in all the country," said Bill Strassberger, a
spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.

Asked about the Haitian situation at a luncheon of the Greater Miami Chamber
of Commerce, Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld seemed to downplay ongoing
uprisings by Aristide opponents that began in Gonaives last weekend and have
left dozens dead.

"It seems to ebb and flow," Rumsfeld told an audience of more than 150
people. "And at the moment, it is not deteriorating."

Rumsfeld said the secretary of state and the president constantly monitor
foreign policy issues. And while it's "sad" to see countries struggling, the
United States hopes that countries in the Caribbean region, as well as
international organizations, would help Haiti "navigate."

Reports from Haiti, however, painted a picture of a nation split by
violence.

Rebels reportedly maintained control of the country's fourth largest city,
Gonaives, according to the Associated Press.

While in the capital city of Port-au-Prince, groups loyal to President Jean
Paul Aristide crushed an opposition rally even before it began, according to
the AP.

At least 49 people have died in clashes, and there is growing concern the
violence will mushroom and result in a food and medical crisis.

More than 1,000 Haitians were deported from South Florida from October 2002
through 2003, according to immigration officials.

Another 64 were sent back to Haiti to date this year.

Business writer Doreen Hemlock contributed to this report, which was
supplemented with material from wire services.

Sandra Hernandez can be reached at shernandez@sun-sentinel.com or 954 385
7923.

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