26850: Hermantin(news)REP. MEEK REVISITS HAITIAN'S DEATH (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Miami Herald

December 10, 2005



MIAMI

REP. MEEK REVISITS HAITIAN'S DEATH

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, is asking the U.S. Department of Homeland 
Security to reconsider its recent ruling in the death of the Rev. Joseph 
Dantica, who died while being detained by federal immigration officials in 
Miami.

Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General recently issued a report 
absolving the agency of any responsibility in Dantica's death.

Dantica, 81, was taken into federal immigration custody after arriving at Miami 
International Airport in October 2004 and asking for political asylum. Instead 
of being allowed to leave, he was taken to Krome detention center. He died five 
days later.

Dantica is the uncle of noted Haitian-American prize-winning author and Miami 
resident Edwidge Danticat.

On Friday, Meek wrote a letter to Richard L. Skinner, acting inspector general, 
asking him to ''consider additional information'' pertaining to the 
investigation into Dantica's death, ``and a wider investigation into treatment 
of detainees at all DHS facilities.''