    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 23, 1997]
    [Page 1823]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1823]]

    Statement on Deferred Enforced Departure for Haitians
    December 23, 1997

        Today I have directed the Attorney General and the Immigration and
    Naturalization Service to defer for one year the deportation of Haitians
    who were paroled into the United States or applied for asylum prior to
    December 31, 1995. This action implements the commitment I made to
    address the situation of Haitians when I signed immigration legislation
    last month offering relief to Central Americans and others. It will
    shield these Haitians from deportation while we work with Congress to
    provide them long-term legislative relief.
        Haitians deserve the same treatment we sought for Central Americans.
    Like Central Americans, Haitians for many years were forced to seek the
    protection of the United States because of oppression, human rights
    abuses, and civil strife at home. Many of them have established strong
    ties and made significant contributions to our communities. And while we
    have been encouraged by Haiti's progress following the restoration of
    democratic government in 1994, the situation there remains fragile.
    Staying the deportation of these Haitians and obtaining for them
    permanent legislative relief will help support a stable and democratic
    Haiti--which, in turn, is the best safeguard against a renewed flow of
    Haitian migrants to the United States.