23405: (Hermantin)Miami-Herald-Gov. Bush says he expects fair hearing on reprieve reque (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Posted on Sun, Oct. 10, 2004




CAMPAIGN 2004 | HAITI


Gov. Bush says he expects fair hearing on reprieve request

Gov. Jeb Bush told Haitians that his brother is 'with the country' and that
he expects a fair hearing for the storm-racked nation's request to grant a
reprieve to thousands of undocumented migrants.

BY LESLEY CLARK

lclark@herald.com


Courting a burgeoning Haitian-American voting bloc on behalf of his brother,
Gov. Jeb Bush on Saturday said he expects President Bush's administration to
rule within a week on a request to give thousands of undocumented Haitian
migrants a reprieve from being sent back to Haiti.

The request from Haitian Prime Minister Gerard Latortue comes as the country
struggles to recover from Tropical Storm Jeanne's devastating floods.

''It's under consideration, and, given the circumstances with the
hurricanes, I think it's going to get a very fair hearing,'' Bush told
reporters after a Saturday morning rally at a downtown Miami hotel.
``They're responding to the prime minister, hopefully this week, and
hopefully to provide support for people . . . who have come . . . not to be
deported during these difficult times.''

Bush said he has spoken to his brother about the request, but he stopped
short of saying he supports the measure.

''People who have not committed any crimes, and are here because of the
circumstances of their country, I think they should be given
consideration,'' he said.

Latortue is asking for temporary protected status, or TPS, which would
provide migrants with emergency temporary residence and work papers for up
to 18 months.

Local immigration advocates also have been requesting that the United States
stop all deportations of Haitians and provide them with temporary status,
arguing that the storm-battered country is still struggling to right itself
from the toppling of its president and is ill-prepared to accept those
returning.

Republicans have bolstered their efforts to woo Haitian voters, suggesting
that they're supportive of Bush's efforts to bring stability to Haiti after
the ouster of Haitian President Jean-Bernard Aristide.

Bush's mention of Aristide's removal drew sustained and enthusiastic
applause from the crowd of about 80 supporters, gathered Saturday at the
Marriott Miami Biscayne Bay to cheer Bush, who admitted to not understanding
a word of his introduction given in Creole.

''I have no clue what you said, but it was beautiful,'' he said to laughter.

Bush told the crowd that Haitians have values similar to those of the
Republican Party.

''We share a commitment of core values and personal responsibility, of
faith, of family,'' Bush said.

Both presidential campaigns have sought to make inroads in the fast-growing
community.

Sen. John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, last week visited a Little Haiti
community center.

Kerry's campaign has said it supports granting three- to six-month,
temporary status to Haitian migrants -- ''something which the president has
so far opposed,'' said spokesman Matt Miller.

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