Migration Chairman Urges Respect for Haitians' Human Dignity
WASHINGTON (October 30, 2002) -– Lack of political stability and human rights violations in Haiti led more than 200 refugees to seek protection in the United States, according to the Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Migration Committee, and the U.S. government should allow the Haitians to request asylum.
"Lack of political stability in Haiti and evidence of an increasing number of human rights violations that the Haitian government either condones or is powerless to prevent has caused Haitians to risk their lives in an attempt to reach freedom and obtain for themselves and their children conditions worthy of human life," said Auxiliary Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami in a statement issued today.
About 220 Haitians endured an eight-day voyage aboard a 50-foot wooden boat before running aground yesterday near Miami. They are currently being held in a Florida detention center.
Bishop Wenski, who chairs the Migration Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, called on the U.S. government to ensure that:
- the Haitians be allowed to request asylum;
- they not be subject to prolonged detention as their claims are adjudicated. Expedited release of Haitians will help ensure their access to legal counsel in an appropriate setting;
- the family members still held aboard Coast Guard ships be allowed to reunite with family members on shore.
He also called for the release of 80 Haitian refugees detained since December.
The full text of Bishop Wenski's statement follows:
"The arrival of more than 200 Haitians by boat at Key Biscayne, Florida, October 29 has captured the attention of the nation and graphically demonstrated once again the plight of Haitians who continue to arrive on our shores seeking protection. Lack of political stability in Haiti and evidence of an increasing number of human rights violations that the Haitian government either condones or is powerless to prevent has caused Haitians to risk their lives in an attempt to reach freedom and obtain for themselves and their children conditions worthy of human life.
"On behalf of the Committee on Migration of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, I urge President Bush and the U.S. government to take appropriate steps to ensure the following:
- that the Haitians be allowed to request asylum;
- that they not be subject to prolonged detention as their claims are adjudicated. Expedited release of Haitians will help ensure their access to legal counsel in an appropriate setting;
- that the family members still held aboard Coast Guard ships be allowed to reunite with family members on shore.
"I once again call for the release of the more than 80 Haitians who arrived in December and continue to languish in detention.
"Through Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the U.S. Catholic bishops have a long history of assisting Haitians who arrive in the United States. The U.S. Catholic bishops stand ready to work with our government to reverse this policy and to help provide protection and basic needs assistance to the most recent group of Haitians."