a1787: Miami Herald: INS Policy Unfair to Haitians (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JD Lemieux <lxhaiti@yahoo.com>

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 Posted on Sun, Apr. 21, 2002

In policy switch, INS releases a 'small number' of Haitians
BY ANABELLE de GALE
adegale@herald.com

Months after the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service modified its long-standing release practice, the
agency has reexamined its procedure and begun paroling some
of the 240-plus Haitian refugees who have faced indefinite
detention since December.

''We've reviewed the policy and there has been somewhat of
a policy change,'' said Rodney Germain, an INS spokesman.

The latest releases come just weeks after several prominent
immigration attorneys sued the INS for discrimination and
asked for the release of the refugees.

Those named as plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit
included Ernest Moise and Peterson Belizaire. Moise was set
free March 27 and Belizaire was among ''a small number'' of
Haitians released last week, Germain said. Germain did not
release the names of the others discharged.

Prior to December, when a boatload of nearly 200 Haitians
was rescued from a sinking ship near Miami, the policy
allowed for the freeing of asylum-seekers if they could
show a credible fear of persecution if repatriated to their
homeland. But that month, the INS changed its policy,
saying the new rules were meant to deter Haitians from
making risky voyages by sea to Florida.

Then, in mid-April, the INS changed the rules again.

''But there are still certain conditions on their
release,'' Germain said.

To be eligible for parole, Germain said, a detainee must
have come through official ports of entry, such as
airports. They must also provide a ''support affidavit'' --
basically proof of income from sponsors.

And their release is pending the outcome of their asylum
applications.

Belizaire, who was unavailable for comment Saturday,
arrived by plane at Miami International Airport Jan. 17. He
has said he left Haiti because government supporters
disliked his political activities: He was a member of a
choral group that sang songs with political messages.



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