[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2149-E2150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 2267, DEPARTMENTS OF COMMERCE, 
JUSTICE, AND STATE, THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 1997

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
profound disapproval at the proposed agreement reached by 
Representatives Lamar Smith and Lincoln Diaz-Balart. This agreement 
unfairly distinguishes between Central Americans who entered the United 
States before December 1995 and

[[Page E2150]]

Guantanamo Haitians who entered the United States during 1991 and 1992.
  My disagreement with this proposed legislation is based on the 
exclusion of the Guantanamo Haitians from the proposed amnesty. It is 
shocking to find that this proposed law grants relief to Central 
Americans, without regard to the plight of those 11,000 or more 
Haitians who were admitted to the United States. After being processed 
in Guantanamo in 1991.
  One of the arguments used to favor the Central Americans is that they 
are in the United States for political reasons. I believe this is the 
same argument for the Guantanamo Haitians who fled their country by 
boat to escape a violent military dictatorship, headed by General 
Cedras and Michel Francois. Many of them were reportedly killed by this 
military junta. Those who escaped were intercepted at sea, and were 
brought to Guantanamo for screening. They were determined to have 
credible claims for political asylum and were permitted to enter the 
United States just like the Central Americans.
  Besides the Guantanamo Haitians, many other Haitians escaped to the 
United States in search of peace and freedom. However, they were sent 
back to Haiti because they were considered economic refugees. Today, 
even the Haitians who were determined to be political refugees will be 
deported unless they are given the same consideration proposed for the 
Central Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact is, there is no legitimate reason to 
discriminate between the Haitians seeking asylum, and the Central 
Americans who seek asylum. While I commend the Clinton administration's 
leadership in proposing legislation which provides that the pending 
asylum applications of Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans be 
considered under the standards of the old immigration law, their 
proposal falls far short of what must be done.
  Extending to Haitian refugees the same benefits that we extend to 
Central American refugees is the only just and moral thing to do. This 
legislation is flawed and has a double standard penalizing Haitians 
while favoring Latinos.
  As is etched in marble on the U.S. Supreme Court: ``Equal justice 
under the law''. This proposed agreement fails this test. I demand 
equity for all refugees and will settle for nothing less.