[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2382]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HAITIAN REFUGEE IMMIGRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the House passed the D.C. 
appropriations bill which included the Victims of Communism Relief Act, 
giving Nicaraguans, Cubans, and refugees immigration amnesty; and 
Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and certain Eastern European refugees the 
opportunity to apply for suspension of deportation under the standards 
set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act prior to its amendment 
last Congress. Unfortunately, the bill did not include any relief for 
similarly situated Haitian refugees who fled persecution in their 
country and received protection in the United States. I am introducing 
the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act of 1997 to resolve this 
inequity.
  After a September 1991 coup toppled the democratically elected 
government in Haiti, the number of persons fleeing Haiti by boat for 
the United States rose dramatically. During the Bush administration, 
over 40,000 Haitians were interviewed at Guantanamo Bay and 
approximately 10,000 Haitians met the ``credible fear'' asylum standard 
and were paroled into the United States by the Attorney General. Thus, 
these Haitians are in the United States legally, as parolees. The 
parolee status of Haitian refugees has been regularly extended but 
``parolee'' is considered a temporary position in immigration law.
  Specifically, the bill will adjust the immigration status of 
Guantanamo Bay Haitian parolees to legal permanent residents and permit 
Haitian asylees who are not otherwise covered by this act to seek 
equitable relief. In light of the amnesty the Nicaraguans and Cubans 
received, this legislation is the only solution to achieve equity and 
fairness for Haitian refugees.
  The bill is a bipartisan and bicameral effort and is strongly 
supported by the administration. Senators Graham, Mack, Kennedy, 
Abraham, Moseley-Braun, and Moynihan have introduced companion 
legislation. Haitian refugees who are in this country legally deserve 
treatment equal to the Central Americans. This bill is the just and 
fair solution and I urge expeditious adoption of this measure next 
session.

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