[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 25, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E763-E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HAITIAN DEPORTATIONS--A HUMANITARIAN OPPORTUNITY GONE UNNOTICED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today to acknowledge 
the unjust and inhumane treatment of 30,000 Haitians living in the 
United States who have been threatened with deportation. These Haitian 
nationals have contributed to our society for several years as hard-
working, law-abiding tax-payers and are now being asked to return to a 
country that is in no position to support them.
  Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and it has 
furthermore been ravaged by natural disasters during the last year. The 
impact of hurricanes and floods has been devastating to the Haitian 
economy and has resulted in an unprecedented level of suffering 
requiring emergency assistance for the people of Haiti. The idea of 
sending thousands of refugees into such a desperate situation is so 
inhumane as to be unthinkable.

[[Page E764]]

  The UN estimates the lives of approximately 800,000 have been 
affected by the storms of the previous year. These people have no 
viable country to return to--what is the rationale behind sending an 
additional 30,000 people back to a country that already has close to a 
million displaced individuals? This is a Bush policy that needs to be 
reconsidered--it is uncertain who would support such a policy that 
threatens an already fragile environment.
  The humanitarian thing to do would be to offer these Haitians 
Temporary Protection Status (TPS) which is consistent with concessions 
given to other countries given the same circumstances. In the past, we 
have made this compromise with countries such as El Salvador, 
Nicaragua, and Honduras, even as recent as 2008. This is blatantly 
inconsistent with the treatment given to Haitian immigrants despite the 
fact that economic and social conditions are worse, in addition to the 
reality that the country has not overcome the recent floods and 
hurricanes. Considering the compelling humanitarian reasons against 
returning Haitians to a homeland that cannot now support them, I must 
wonder what the real motives behind such a policy are.
  It is unfortunate to see the treatment of these Haitians by the 
United States government given the fact that Haiti has had such a rich, 
long history with the United States. During the American Revolution 
about 750 Haitian freemen fought alongside colonial troops against the 
British in the Siege of Savannah in 1779. This level of sacrifice by a 
country should not be forgotten, especially during times of need.
  The defeat of the French Napoleon Army by the Haitians, albeit 
indirectly, helped America expand its territories towards the West with 
the Louisiana Purchase. At the time, Haiti was the producer of 40 
percent of the world's sugar, was the most profitable colony the French 
owned and in fact the wealthiest and most flourishing of the slave 
colonies in the Caribbean. This was a tremendous loss to the French, 
and as a result was forced to sell off some of their land. The outcome 
for the US was significant--the land included in the purchase comprised 
of around 23% of the territory of the United States today.
  The historical relationship and the humanitarian concerns are 
important facts to consider before deporting this group of Haitian 
refugees. Also consider that the Haitian economy has become 
increasingly reliant on the money sent by the Haitian Diaspora living 
abroad. Haiti's remittances make up one-third of their GDP and no other 
national group anywhere in the world sends money home in higher 
proportions. These 30,000 Haitians should be allowed to remain in this 
country and continue to send remittances to their homeland, while still 
paying their tax dollars and helping our economy grow.
  Madam Speaker, I hope that our government will make the right 
decision and allow this country, a friend of ours, to rebound from 
these tragic natural disasters. As an example to the world, we must not 
let this humanitarian opportunity go unnoticed.

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