Urge President Bush and Secretary Ridge to Protect Haitian Refugees

by Catherine Dodson

Issue

Over the past several months, violence has escalated in Haiti between armed rebels and supporters of the now deposed, democratically elected President Jean Bertrand-Aristide, plunging the small island nation into chaos. At least 100 people were killed in February alone, which has led an increasing number of persons to flee in search of refuge, often to the United States in crowded and unsafe vessels. President Bush, however, made it clear that "we will turn back any refugee that attempts to reach our shore," 1 a policy in flagrant violation of international law as established by the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. Indeed, in the past month the U.S. Coast Guard has repatriated over 867 Haitians without giving them a chance to adequately state their asylum claims. While it is hoped that the international peacekeeping force will stabilize the country, the U.S. still has moral and legal responsibility to protect those persons who seek refuge from the dangerous turmoil in Haiti.

Action

Call or write the White House and ask President Bush to provide protection for all Haitians intercepted at sea, and to offer TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for a period of 18 months to Haitians currently residing in the U.S. Thank him for contributing troops to the international peacekeeping force, so that the country can be stabilized.

Contact Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and ask him to immediately halt all deportations and repatriations to Haiti, due to the instability of the country and the almost assured threat to the lives of all Haitians returned to the island at this time.

The number for the White House Comment Line is (202) 456.1111.

To write the President, send your letter to:

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

To write the Secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, send your letter to:

The Honorable Tom Ridge
Department of Homeland Security
2001 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201

Background

Haiti, one of the most impoverished nations in the world, has a history of violent uprisings and political instability. When the first democratically-elected President, Aristide, was ousted by a military coup in 1991, the Presbyterian Church (USA) was adamant in her calls for the restoration of order, justice and peace in Haiti, and for the United States to stop the forced return of Haitian refugees. Today, faced with a similar Haitian humanitarian and political crisis a decade later, the Church's response must be the same. The United States is morally and legally obligated to protect Haitian refugees, and so should offer interdicted migrants screening for asylum instead of simply repatriating them to their unstable country. In so doing, the U.S. would encourage other nations in the region to open their borders to Haitians seeking protection from the violence.

The Temporary Protected Status program was established to provide protection to people who are temporarily unable to return to their homelands because of dangerous and ongoing conflict. There is international consensus that this is the current situation in Haiti, made clear by the decision of the UN Security Council to provide peacekeeping forces to the region. Thus, all Haitians currently in the U.S. should be allowed Temporary Protected Status until it is safe to return to their native country.

By calling for fair treatment of Haitian refugees — a chance to state their claims for asylum and the offering of Temporary Protected Status — PC(USA) seeks to uphold standards of human rights, peace, and justice for all people, regardless of race, creed, or nationality.

General Assembly Policy

1992 Statement — PC(USA), p. 918

1. Calls on the president and United States government to:

a. Suspend immediately the high seas interdiction and forced return of Haitian refugees;

f. Support the restoration of constitutional order and democratic government in Haiti, so that the people of Haiti, with the active support of the international community, can bring peace, stability, and justice to their nation . . .

1993 Statement — PC(USA), pp. 60-61

Whereas, the situation in Haiti becomes more desperate every day, with continuing human rights abuses documented by various human rights groups and international observers; ...

. . the 205th General Assembly (1993) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. Calls upon the civilian and military authorities in Haiti to stop the killing and human rights violations now going on in Haiti.

2. Calls upon the United States government, the Organization of American States, the United Nations, and the international community at large to take all necessary measures for the restoration of the democratically elected government, of President Aristide, of constitutional order, and of the rule of law in Haiti.

3. Supports the United Nations and the Organization of American States in the deployment of observers and peacekeepers into Haiti to prevent human rights abuses and to oversee a speedy transition to democratically elected government.

6. Calls upon presbyteries and congregations to act upon the concerns lifted up in their prayers by:

a. engaging in letter writing and other means of communicating with their members of Congress, the president, and the Department of State, asking for continuous and more decisive actions;

b. providing greater financial support to human rights organizations in Haiti for humanitarian assistance;

3. identifying and sponsoring local programs in Haiti to foster peace and sustainable development through training in peaceful conflict resolution, mediation and reconciliation, and alternative economic and social activities.