21975: Esser: Conditions in Haiti not as safe as U.S. says (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: D. Esser torx@joimail.com

May 19, 2004

UPI

Washington, DC, May. 19 (UPI) -- A group of lawmakers has announced
it is renewing its call for the Department of Homeland Security to
suspend deportations of Haitian refugees.

The House members are led by Reps. Robert Wexler, D-Fla. and Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.

The current effort is in response to the refusal by the Homeland
Security Administration to suspend deportations until the situation
in Haiti stabilizes. The agency has since said it was monitoring the
situation.

Wexler's press aide, Lale Mamaux, said Wexler believes Haiti is still
"a very unsafe place -- still unstable."

"It is imperative that America act now and suspend all deportations
of innocent Haitians who are seeking safe refuge in the United
States," Wexler said in a statement.

The request is one among several efforts to ease the plight of
Haitians trying to reach the United States and prevent them from
being returned to their homeland. Advocates say conditions in Haiti
are not as peaceful as the U.S. government portrays them.
.