[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 164 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4879-H4880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HAITIAN REFUGEES HAVE RIGHT TO SEEK ASYLUM
(Ms. TLAIB asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, for many of our residents, the images of the
United States Customs and Border Patrol officers on horseback whipping
Black Haitian immigrants at the border were triggering. It was
traumatic. It was a reminder of our country's ugly history and its
decades of mistreatment of Black folks.
What we all witnessed in Del Rio, Texas, was disgusting, not just
because of the rogue, out-of-control CBP but also because the actions
were a blatant betrayal of our human rights values.
Those brave Haitian refugees have a legal right to seek asylum in our
country, like all who are fleeing violence and repression.
America is supposed to be a safe haven. Instead, Black asylum seekers
at the border are being met with violence and deportation back to a
crisis-stricken country.
All Black Haitians deserve to be treated with human dignity, and we
must do better. Our failure to act
[[Page H4880]]
against Federal agencies, at least oversight of Black immigrants coming
in, is going to enable these shameful acts to continue. We must act
together to stop it.
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