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Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002

An affidavit signed by Nicholas W. Economou, a special agent for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, said 200 Haitians were taken aboard the boat Thursday in Shu Shu Bay in Haiti and about 20 more were taken aboard during a stop at La Tori, Haiti, the next day.

"The journey to Miami from Haiti lasted approximately four days without any stops along the way," Economou said.

INS officials were also preparing to hear requests by the illegal aliens for political asylum, but Haitian activists said they expected nearly all of refugees to be returned home to Haiti.

Three lawyers tried to visit the refugees at the Krome Avenue Processing Center, where they are being detained, but were turned away by authorities who said it would interfere with the smuggling investigation.

The incident Tuesday revived controversy over how Haitians are treated differently than refugees from other countries. Once Cubans arrive on U.S. soil they are usually released under the Cuban Adjustment Act and granted U.S. residency after a year. Other Latin Americans who receive asylum applications are released to family, friends or relief agencies until hearings are held.

Haitians are detained during that period under a policy adopted after 185 refugees arrived in south Florida in December.

"For the last 10 months, our government has singled out Haitians for special discriminatory treatment and refused to release them from detention while releasing asylum seekers from just about every other country very, very quickly," said attorney Cheryl Little, a longtime Haitian advocate.

Dems Try to Exploit the Issue Against Gov. Bush

Gov. Jeb Bush undercut Democrats who immediately tried to use the issue against him. Bush, running for re-election, made a scheduled campaign stop in Miami's Little Haiti section Wednesday morning. He said the Haitians who can show a credible likelihood they will be persecuted if they return home should be released while their asylum applications are processed. He said he had spoken with INS and with the White House about the situation.

"They should be allowed out of Krome. I've made that case to the folks in Washington, D.C., one more time," Bush said. "Haitians should be the same as people from Jamaica, the Bahamas, Colombia, any other country.

"They will receive due process. The only question is whether they will receive due process inside Krome or out," said Bush, who was questioned heatedly by left-wing Rep. Carrie Meek, D-Fla.

Hooray! More Democrat Voters off the Boat!

Fox News Channel reported after the 2000 presidential election that Democrat activists in Miami hounded terrified and confused Haitians and ordered them to vote for Al Gore and other Democrat candidates.

Scores of protesters demonstrated outside INS headquarters Tuesday night and again at the governor's campaign appearance.

Hans Ottinot of Haitian Lawyers Association said all they want is for Haitian refugees to be treated the same as the others.

"Other refugees are released upon the filing of asylum applications. Haitian refugees should have the same right. They should be treated the same under the law, not treated differently, obviously because of their skin color," he said.

Florida state Rep. Phillip Bruce said the biggest cause of the immigration problems were conditions in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, despite massive U.S. aid.

"They have no choice. Their only choice is to leave the country," Bruce said. "They cannot do anything. There's no jobs program. There's no money, poverty aid. Nothing."

Coast Guard Failed to Stop Them

Bush said it had not been determined whether the refugees came directly from Haiti, or had made a stop in the Bahamas. He said that would have a bearing on the homeland security issue in the case: how the boat managed to reach shore without detection.

The Coast Guard said the boat was first spotted two miles offshore, but wasn't approached then because of fears those aboard would panic and the vessel would capsize. An investigation was launched.

"The reality is we need more help for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard budget was cut in the 1990s. And now they have a modernization plan that will enlarge their presence in Florida," Bush said.

There were 214 refugees in custody including three Dominicans. There was a chance a few more had escaped into the community.

Those charged before U.S. Magistrate William Turnoff were Edner Dorvil, Jean Phillip Petite-Homme, Sali Atlanase Jean, Eli Louis, Genel Elmeus Osmin and Jean Eddy Louis. The 52-year-old Dorvil was the vessel's captain. In addition, five material witnesses are being held.

Copyright 2002 by United Press International.

All rights reserved.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Immigration/Borders

Editor's note:
Now we know: "Why the Left Hates America"