[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 68 (Thursday, May 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       PROVIDING TPS FOR HAITIANS

                                 ______


                          HON. CARRIE P. MEEK

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 1994

  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, just a few days ago, Haiti's 
military regime announced plans to enforce a 14-year-old law which 
would make ``all irregular trips toward foreign lands illegal.'' This 
means that any Haitian returned to Haiti will be subjected to 
imprisonment, torture, and or death. It is imperative now more than 
ever that we provide temporary protected status to Haitian nationals, 
both those in custody at sea as well as those who currently reside in 
the United States.
  It is incumbent that the United States immediately stop the 
repatriation of Haitians intercepted on the high seas and grant them 
temporary protected status. Temporary protected status is a status that 
has been granted to nationals from other nations such as Kuwait, 
Somalia, Bosnia, and El Salvador during conflict in their countries. By 
granting Haitians TPS, we would be doing no more for them than we have 
done for other refugees.
  By granting Haitians TPS we achieve two objectives: undocumented 
Haitians can live and work in safety without fear or being deported, 
and the INS would know where they reside so that it can facilitate 
their return once conditions in Haiti are safe. Meanwhile, they would 
be granted work authorization, but would remain ineligible for any 
Federal benefit programs.
  As a nation, we refused to protect desperate Jews seeking refuge from 
Nazi Germany. If we fail to protect Haitians, we will be setting a 
dangerous precedent for the future and risk repeating the mistakes of 
the past.

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