#1983: Haitian leaders in Miami press for INS changes (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:nozier@tradewind.net

Haitian leaders in Miami press for INS changes                      
06:01 p.m Jan 23, 2000 Eastern   By Margarita Martin-Hidalgo 

 MIAMI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Haitian community leaders in  Florida on
Sunday vowed to continue fighting what they call an  unfair U.S.
immigration policy one day after a Haitian immigrant  and her children
were reunited in Miami. `We would like refugees who are coming to our
shores seeking refuge to be brought to shore and be allowed to make
their case in court,'' said Marleine Bastien, president of the Haitian
Women  of Miami.  On Saturday, supporters of changing the law celebrated
the reunion of Yvena Rhinvil and her two children, who were sent back to
Haiti while she was being treated in a Miami hospital. A delegation
including U.S. Representative Carrie Meek of  Florida and her son,
Florida Sen. Kendrick Meek, delivered  Marc Dieubon, 9, and Germanie
Dieubon, 8, to Rhinvil, who is pregnant, following a three-week battle
with U.S. authorities. Rhinvil and her children were among 407 Haitian,
Dominican  and Chinese immigrants aboard a 60-foot (20-meter) freighter
that ran aground off the coast of Miami on New Year's Day. The U.S.
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (INS) made a  swift decision to
send all but Rhinvil and three other women  back to Haiti.  That move,
occurring at the same time as an international custody dispute over
6-year-old Cuban shipwreck survivor   Elian Gonzalez infuriated Miami's
Haitian community and led to demonstrations against U.S. policy.        
Most Haitians seeking a better life in Florida are returned to their
homeland, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere with the average
per capita annual income of about $250.  On the other hand, the U.S.
``wet foot/dry foot'' policy on Cuban immigrants allows them to remain
in the United States if they reach dry land. 
 ``We have asked (Attorney General) Janet Reno to review the two
policies,'' Cheryl Little, Rhinvil's attorney said. ``If they
are          intercepted by the Coast Guard they should have their day
in        court.''  Reno agreed to allow Rhinvil's children to return to
Miami to be  with their mother while her claim for asylum is being
considered.   Rhinvil's asylum hearing is set for Feb. 25.