Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte (Flatbush, Ditmas Park) yesterday penned an urgent letter to Departmnet of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson ruging the Obama administration to stop the reumpstion of deportations of Haitians that are at the U.S./Mexico border.
Sen. Kevin Parker (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope) and City Council Member Jumaane Williams (Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood) also signed onto the letter. Bichotte is Haitain-American and the three lawmakers together have thousands of Haitian-American constituents.
The Obama Administration, through DHS, gave the order on Sept. 24 to reume the deportations after thousands of Haitians began showing up on the U.S./Mexico border in California – with many coming from Brazil where they first went to look for work following political and climate upheaval in the Caribbean country. This was a reversal from an earlier decsion to give these Haitian refugees humanitairan parole of up to three years in the U.S. while the immigration process was being sorted out.
“The reason that was given for the change in course [resumed deportations] was that country conditions in Haiti had improved and that there was a need to deter more people from coming. The news came as a shock given that our own US State Department had issued travel warnings for Haiti, which is suffering from political and economic instability and is still recovering from natural and other disasters including a devastating earthquake followed by a hurricane followed by a cholera epidemic that has displaced or killed countless Haitians. The country has a new president. Contrary to what DHS has stated, the situation in Haiti has not improved it has worsened, warranting a humanitarian response, not harsh enforcement,” wrote Bichotte.
Bichotte noted that Cubans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans were all allowed refugee status in similar situations and the Obama administration has recently said it would accept 110,000 Syrian refugees, while Haitian immigrants appear to being singled out.
“Haiti has just experienced Hurricane Matthew, a category 4. This is the first major hurricane in over 50 years, and even though the eye of the storm has passed, the mudslides and continued rainfall following the hurricane were concerns for meteorologists. Forecasters after the hurricane predicted an additional 20 inches of rainfall in Haiti’s lower elevations and 40 inches in the mountains. Officials reported that almost 400 homes had been destroyed. Haitians have posted pictures to social media documenting the wreckage and devastation during and after the storm,” the lawmakers wrote.
“Perhaps one of the unintended consequences [of the deportation order] is the impact it is having on families – women and children have been separated from the husbands and fathers. This has impacted at least 50 families. Without an effort to rectify this situation, DHS’ forced separation of family members may mean that families are separated for a lifetime. Those who crossed through will be able to stay in a humanitarian status in the US. Those who were caught on the other side will be stuck in Mexico or detained if they approach the border under threat of deportation until Haiti is able to receive them back if it ever is. At a minimum, recognize that these families were separated when the US government abruptly changed its policy.”
To read the full letter click here.
