Stop Deportations to Haiti
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President Barack H. Obama
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January 30, 2009
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461
comments@whitehouse.gov
RE: The Administration Should Urgently Stay Deportations to Haiti
Dear President Obama:
First, congratulations on your new job. Immigrant communities look forward to working with your administration. Certainly you have many pressing priorities. We are compelled, however, to bring to your attention a life or death matter: Haitian deportees face hunger, homelessness and unemployment, if not worse, in the wake of four killer storms that further devastated our hemispheres poorest nation. We urge you to immediately stay deportations to Haiti pending review of U.S. immigration policy toward Haitians.
These deportations are inhumane and, we believe, contrary to your administrations values of fairness, transparency and respect for human rights. Please consider:
The former administration stayed deportations to Haiti in September only to resume them abruptly in December without notice or reasonable explanation. This was a last-minute Department of Homeland Security policy reversal. It should not stand.
Conditions in Haiti remain abysmal. The storms destroyed 15 percent of its GDPthe equivalent of eight to 10 Hurricane Katrinas hitting the U.S. in one month. Yesterday the State Department renewed warnings to not to travel to Haiti due to the destructive impact of the storms.
Staying the deportations is in the interest of the U.S. Sending more people in need of food and shelter will further burden the Haitian government, which already is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the natural disaster. Deportees only delay recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Haitians who remain here would continue to send remittances, encouraging relatives to stay in Haiti and help rebuild their country.
These deportations tear apart families, hurting U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Vialine Jean Paul, 34, married a U.S. citizen. Their 7-year-old, U.S-born daughter is being treated for a chronic viral infection. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Ms. Jean Paul to buy plane tickets for herself and her daughter to go to Haiti on February 9. Her dilemma: Should she put her daughter at risk of malaria, hepatitis, cholera, malnutrition and uncertain medical care in Haiti or leave her sick daughter behind?
Across America, many want our government to stand with the Haitian people. Haiti still needs U.S. help. Please help by immediately staying deportations to Haiti and undoing the last administrations late-term policy reversal. It is the fair and decent course of action.
Sincerely,
Marleine Bastien
Executive Director
Fanm Ayisyen Nan
Miyami/Haitian
Women of Miami
Cheryl Little
Executive Director
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
Maria Rodriguez
Executive Director
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Randolph P. McGrorty
Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Charities Legal Services
Winnie Cantave
Co-Executive Director
UNITE for Dignity
Jean-Robert Lafortune
Chairman
Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition
Fr. Reginald Jean-Mary
Notre Dame dHaiti Mission
Preval Floreal
Grace Haitian United Methodist Church
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461
comments@whitehouse.gov
RE: The Administration Should Urgently Stay Deportations to Haiti
Dear President Obama:
First, congratulations on your new job. Immigrant communities look forward to working with your administration. Certainly you have many pressing priorities. We are compelled, however, to bring to your attention a life or death matter: Haitian deportees face hunger, homelessness and unemployment, if not worse, in the wake of four killer storms that further devastated our hemispheres poorest nation. We urge you to immediately stay deportations to Haiti pending review of U.S. immigration policy toward Haitians.
These deportations are inhumane and, we believe, contrary to your administrations values of fairness, transparency and respect for human rights. Please consider:
The former administration stayed deportations to Haiti in September only to resume them abruptly in December without notice or reasonable explanation. This was a last-minute Department of Homeland Security policy reversal. It should not stand.
Conditions in Haiti remain abysmal. The storms destroyed 15 percent of its GDPthe equivalent of eight to 10 Hurricane Katrinas hitting the U.S. in one month. Yesterday the State Department renewed warnings to not to travel to Haiti due to the destructive impact of the storms.
Staying the deportations is in the interest of the U.S. Sending more people in need of food and shelter will further burden the Haitian government, which already is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the natural disaster. Deportees only delay recovery efforts. Meanwhile, Haitians who remain here would continue to send remittances, encouraging relatives to stay in Haiti and help rebuild their country.
These deportations tear apart families, hurting U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Vialine Jean Paul, 34, married a U.S. citizen. Their 7-year-old, U.S-born daughter is being treated for a chronic viral infection. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told Ms. Jean Paul to buy plane tickets for herself and her daughter to go to Haiti on February 9. Her dilemma: Should she put her daughter at risk of malaria, hepatitis, cholera, malnutrition and uncertain medical care in Haiti or leave her sick daughter behind?
Across America, many want our government to stand with the Haitian people. Haiti still needs U.S. help. Please help by immediately staying deportations to Haiti and undoing the last administrations late-term policy reversal. It is the fair and decent course of action.
Sincerely,
Marleine Bastien
Executive Director
Fanm Ayisyen Nan
Miyami/Haitian
Women of Miami
Cheryl Little
Executive Director
Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
Maria Rodriguez
Executive Director
Florida Immigrant Coalition
Randolph P. McGrorty
Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Charities Legal Services
Winnie Cantave
Co-Executive Director
UNITE for Dignity
Jean-Robert Lafortune
Chairman
Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition
Fr. Reginald Jean-Mary
Notre Dame dHaiti Mission
Preval Floreal
Grace Haitian United Methodist Church
1277 Signatures
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Francesca Guerrier
- Comments
- If Tps is not granted, Hatians will be denied the right to live.
- Zip Code
- 33154
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Katherine Gorell
- Comments
- Equal treatment (human rights) for Haitians!
- Zip Code
- 33141
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Daniel Henriquez
- Comments
- It is totally Unfair!! Give Tps To Haitians
- Zip Code
- 33154
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Christian Guerrier
- Comments
- Let's change this racist law. Yes We can!!
- Zip Code
- 33154
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Giovanna Barone
- Comments
- Let's Help our Haitian brothers and sisters
- Zip Code
- 07026
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Louis Narcisse
- Comments
- Help Haiti Get Back to Greatness!
- Zip Code
- 10302
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shawn kennedy
- Zip Code
- V5T1G5
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Gianni Priarone
- Zip Code
- 07026
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Valdimir Severe
- Zip Code
- 11238
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Tiffany
- Comments
- Stop the deportation
- Zip Code
- 1009
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Saurel Quettan
- Zip Code
- 30039
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Francesca Menes
- Zip Code
- 33127
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King AmunTutAnk
- Zip Code
- 89107
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Kim D Baskerville
- Comments
- N/A
- Zip Code
- 19121
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Cathy Maignan
- Zip Code
- 30281
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Rich S. Morales
- Zip Code
- 33770
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Walaa Quisay
- Zip Code
- 1234
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Fige Bornu
- Comments
- Stop this racist US policy against the people of Haiti.
- Zip Code
- 48244
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Zen Moor
- Zip Code
- 2000
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Melissa
- Comments
- President Obama-don't let your words, "Yes We Can" be another empty campaign slogan-We can Stop the inhumane deportations
- Zip Code
- 90814
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Charlie Attana
- Comments
- Yes to TPS for Haitians
- Zip Code
- 2009
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Melaku Mekonnen
- Zip Code
- 33054
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Jojo
- Zip Code
- 91042
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kenneth karimu
- Comments
- Help Them.
- Zip Code
- 33098
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Carl Thelemaque, MPA-IG, PhD
- Comments
- According to the US Consular Bureau, Haiti is not in a condition that would allow it to receive any dumpings
- Zip Code
- 10035
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Rhoda Louissaint
- Zip Code
- 33323
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Julie Irvin
- Zip Code
- 33139
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Kathleen Sanderson
- Zip Code
- 33180
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William Sancho
- Comments
- Mothers and children are being separated!
- Zip Code
- 33178
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Orlando Ashah
- Zip Code
- 34951
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Tanya Dawkins
- Comments
- Global-Local Links Project
- Zip Code
- 33114
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Holly R. Skolnick
- Zip Code
- 33133
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Antonette P. Russell, Esquire
- Comments
- Supporting Stay to Deportation of Haitians
- Zip Code
- 33311
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Angela Steele
- Zip Code
- 33131
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Guy R. Strafer
- Zip Code
- 33131
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Brian Concannon Jr., Esq
- Zip Code
- 97846
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Henry Petithomme
- Comments
- We look forward to working with you Mr. President
- Zip Code
- 33138
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Jane Herron
- Comments
- The Statue of Liberty should be wearing a shroud. Do something, NOW.
- Zip Code
- 33109
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Kathryn Heathcock
- Zip Code
- 34995
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Fifi (Fiona)
- Zip Code
- N 16 5XE
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Juan Rodriguez
- Comments
- Students Working for Equal Rights
- Zip Code
- 33144
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Beth Kaufka
- Zip Code
- 27405
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Yasmine Abellard
- Zip Code
- 33496
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Katie Fraas
- Zip Code
- 22302
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Fania Innocent
- Comments
- Stop breaking families apart!
- Zip Code
- 33138
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Corinna Olson
- Comments
- Please let us start being better neighbors, especially in times of distress.
- Zip Code
- 33786
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Dominique Charles
- Comments
- FANM, Inc.
- Zip Code
- 33160
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La Guardia Cross Jr.
- Zip Code
- 33157
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Emily Stanek
- Zip Code
- 29224
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Valory Greenfield, Staff Attorney
- Comments
- Florida Legal Services, Inc.
- Zip Code
- 33137
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1277
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