8960: Sun-Sentinel: Worker amnesty attracts Haitians (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

  > --------------------
> > Worker amnesty attracts Haitians
> > --------------------
> >
> > By Rafael A. Olmeda
> > Staff Writer
> >
> > August 26, 2001
> >
> > Holding up the results of a recent poll, a local
> > union group is encouraging Haitian immigrants to
> > join a national call for President Bush to grant
> > amnesty to undocumented workers from all national
> > backgrounds.
> >
> > Bush is scheduled to meet with Mexican President
> > Vicente Fox on Sept. 5, and immigration reforms are
> > on the agenda. Bush is considering proposals to
> > grant amnesty to millions of undocumented Mexican
> > immigrants.
> >
> > But those of other backgrounds should not be left
> > out, said Marlene Bastien, executive director of the
> > Haitian Women of Miami.
> >
> > "We want to be included," she said at a Saturday
> > afternoon meeting sponsored by the Service Employees
> > International Union. "We want immunity for Mexican
> > immigrants. We just want to be included."
> >
> > More than 70 people attended Saturday's meeting.
> >
> > The union is taking part in a nationwide campaign to
> > persuade Bush to provide amnesty to more than 8
> > million immigrants who live and work in the United
> > States illegally.
> >
> > Legal immigrants who hold jobs pay federal taxes
> > just like citizens, but those who are not in the
> > country legally work off the books without the
> > protections and rights of other workers, said
> > Georges Exceus, organizing director for Unite for
> > Dignity, Local 1199 of the service employees union.
> >
> > "Undocumented workers are subject to exploitation,"
> > said Exceus, who came to Florida from Haiti
> > illegally in 1982 and took a series of low-paying
> > jobs off the books.
> >
> > Exceus later corrected his legal status and became a
> > naturalized citizen last year.
> >
> > "It was better for me and it was better for the
> > country," he said. "The Department of Commerce said
> > immigrants paid close to $137 billion in taxes in
> > 1997. That's why these people need amnesty. It's
> > better for the country."
> >
> > Bastien said national groups are encouraging three
> > ways to push for a wider amnesty.
> >
> > One is a letter writing campaign aimed at Bush,
> > Secretary of State Colin Powell and Attorney General
> > John Ashcroft.
> >
> > The second is local demonstrations on Sept. 5, the
> > day Bush meets with Fox. The Miami demonstration
> > will take place from 4-7 p.m. in front of the INS
> > office at 79th Street and Biscayne Boulevard.
> >
> > The third push is for a national demonstration in
> > Washington D.C. on Sept. 25.
> >
> > Rafael Olmeda can be reached at
> > rolmeda@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4207.
> >
> >
> >
> > Copyright (c) 2001, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
> >
> > Visit Sun-Sentinel.com
>
>
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