[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN OPPOSITION TO THE DISPARATE TREATMENT OF HAITIANS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 12, 1997

  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the 
language in the conference report accompanying H.R. 2607, the District 
of Columbia Appropriations Act, that allows for the different and 
disparate treatment of Haitians. Last year, the Immigration Reform Act 
would retroactively allow for the wrongful deportation of hundreds of 
Central Americans--Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans--and 
Haitians. Mr. Speaker, guess who, in the final analysis, was left out 
of the legislation? Haitians. That's right, Haitians. This is patently 
unfair, and although I am not a member of the House International 
Relations Committee, I will do all that I can to ensure that this 
situation is rectified when Congress reconvenes for the second session 
of the 105th Congress.
  Like many of my colleagues, I listened with rapt attention during the 
debate late last night on the District of Columbia conference report. 
the citizens of the District of Columbia--hard-working, taxpaying 
citizens--have a hard-working, but non-voting representative in the 
House of Representatives. Because of this fact, the District of 
Columbia appropriations bill is historically laden with riders that are 
totally unrelated to anything regarding how the District of Columbia 
should spend its annual Federal appropriation. One of these riders in 
the conference report would prevent the wrongful deportation of Central 
Americans but not for Haitians. While yesterday's Congressional Record 
delineated the agreement, that the U.S. Attorney General will 
temporarily suspend the deportation of Haitians while Congress 
deliberates legislation to provide similar relief to Haitians, this is 
not part of the current law. And all of us know the weight and 
importance of the law in the U.S. house of Representatives.
  It disturbs me greatly that this great Nation, under God, 
indivisible, is incapable of treating all persons fairly. More than 
18,000 Haitians were admitted to the United States after being 
processed in Guantanamo Bay in 1991. Many of these persons fled a 
violent military dictatorship, led by General Cedras and Michel 
Francois. These persons were determined to have credible, bona fide 
claims for political asylum, and were permitted to enter our sacred 
shores. Now, we find out that the law has unfairly excluded these 
persons.
  I will do all I can to bring justice to the Haitian people and to the 
citizens of America. I demand hearings on this legislation, and the 
expeditious consideration and adoption of this bill when Congress 
reconvenes.

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