The Honorable George Walker Bush


President of the United States


The White House


Washington, DC 20500


Dear Mr. President:


All immigrants and asylum seekers who come to this country are due equal

justice under the law. The United States’ policies on immigration must be

color-blind, however, I am extremely concerned about the prejudicial and

biased treatment from the Administration as it relates to Haitians

refugees.


The Administration has acknowledged lengthy imprisonment and deportation

as a means to discourage more Haitians from coming to America; however the

events of October 29th should make it very clear that those means do not

justify the end. Continuing a policy of detaining Haitians indefinitely

who are seeking asylum in the U.S. will not discourage other Haitians from

also seeking refuge.


As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’s Haiti Task Force, and a

sponsor of legislation to support Haiti through humanitarian relief, I

implore you to change the current policy toward Haitian refugees and to

immediately release all Haitians seeking asylum who are currently being

detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The desperation of

the Haitian seeking asylum is apparent: they are risking their lives, and

the futures of their families to have a chance at a better life.


CBC Haiti Task Force Chair, Carrie Meek, stated, “The Bush Administration

has insisted on treating Haitians differently from other people coming to

this country seeking political asylum. They imprison Haitians

indefinitely; they don’t release Haitians into the care of the Haitian

community; they don’t let Haitians get the help they need to prepare their

asylum cases; and then they deport them.”


We have worked together to improve the conditions of asylum seekers from

Cuba, Nicaragua, Africa, and Venezuala; surely we can find a way to assist

Haitians. With over 1 million Haitians in America and Canada, it is

imperative that we represent the interest of an emerging population while

also helping to restore humanitarian and developmental assistance to

Haiti. The absence of a balanced American policy on Haiti hinders any

potential for the recovery and eventual health for both of our nations.

 

Our global community suffers if we neglect Haiti and its people. I look

forward to working with you on this issue.



Sincerely,


Barbara Lee


Member of Congress


 


Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lee joined in with other members of the  Congressional Black Caucus calling on President Bush and Secretary of State  Colin Powell to retract statements made by U.S. Ambassador to the  Organization of American States, Mr. Roger Noreiga.  At a public meeting of  the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington, D.C. public policy think tank,  Ambassador Noreiga questioned the integrity of Haitian President Jean  Bertrand Aristide to work cooperatively with the United States to fulfill  international agreements.


 A member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ (CBC) Haiti Task Force,  Congresswoman Lee agreed with the comments of Congresswoman Carrie Meek,  Task Force Chair.  Meek wrote Bush, “We deplore such derisive comments  coming from senior US officials at a time when the Government of Haiti has  done nothing but demonstrate good faith in its dealings with the US, the  Organization of American States and the International Financial  Institutions.  It has been no less than six weeks since the OAS passed a  resolution applauding the Government of Haiti’s work to stabilize the  country and establish a climate for new elections next year.  And yet the US  gives them no credit.”


 In her own letter to Bush, Lee appealed to Bush for a more humane response  to Haitian refugees, “As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Haiti  Task Force, and a sponsor of legislation to support Haiti through  humanitarian relief, I implore you to change the current policy toward  Haitian refugees and to immediately release all Haitians seeking asylum who  are currently being detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.  The desperation of the Haitians seeking asylum is apparent:  they are  risking their lives, and the futures of their families to have a chance at a  better life.”


 Lee also demanded that Bush immigration policies avoid any suggestion of  racial discrimination.  Lee told Bush, “United States’ policies on  immigration must be color-blind.”


 The Congressional Black Caucus has already made attempts to work with the  Bush Administration to improve the conditions of asylum seekers from Cuba,  Nicaragua, Africa, and Venezuela:  Haiti should be no different.