Time To Step Up

Written By: McKenzie Logan, CHI intern

Over a short period of time, Haiti has experienced countless adversities.
From Haiti’s Prime Minister being linked to the former president’s
assassination, devastating natural disasters, and continued gang violence,
Haitians are desperate to escape the current political and social turbulence.

As disasters cumulate and the lingering impacts due to centuries of neglect
and repression resurface, the people have learned to rely on each other for
survival. As a result, thousands of Haitians have fled the country in search of
an improved environment. However, most of these efforts will go in vain as
refugees are being deported back to Haiti regardless of the “temporary
protected status” – which grants migrants and refugees already in the
country to work and live in the US legally – the Biden Administration
extended just a few weeks ago.

The Biden Administration has continued to use Trump policies in order to
justify the deportation of Haitians, such as Title 42, which has been proven to
be inconsistent with U.S. and international refugee laws. Criticism stemming
from human rights activists all the way up to Homeland Security has begun
to condemn these actions, however, stating that the Administration’s
reasoning under Title 42 was invalid. In addition, Michael Knowles, the
president of a union that represents individuals seeking asylum, stated that
the use of Title 42 prohibits the basic human right of asylum application.

Consequently, the hostile conditions Haitians are experiencing have further
seeped into the U.S., as Border Patrol agents have been seen on horseback
gathering refugees, closely resembling the rounding of cattle. Some sources
even report witnessing a Haitian man being pulled behind a horse while
restrained. This occurrence has not gone unnoticed, as the Human Rights
Watch determined this circumstance was driven by “abusive and racist”
immigration policies.

NPR story here about the resignation of Daniel Foote,   US Special Envoy to
Haiti, who resigned yesterday, "saying he 'will not be associated with the
United States' inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of
Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti' from the U.S. border."   Good
opinion article here from The Haitian Times:  "America Must Uproot Anti-
Blackness in Immigration to live up to Ideals.”

Please call and write your representatives in government and demand that
they condemn the treatment of asylum-seeking Haitian migrants at our
borders, and demand that they put pressure on the Biden Administration to
end the use of Title 42 started by Trump. We stand WITH Haitian
migrants and all humans fighting for their right to safety, dignity and respect
for themselves and their families. Seeking asylum is a human right. Donate
to organizations fighting alongside Haitian migrants at the border, such as
Haitian Bridge.
#ALLBLACKLIVESMATTER

________________
Sources
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/09/21/us-treatment-haitian-migrants-
discriminatory#
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/09/25/haitian-refugees-
asylum-texas-border-how-to-help/5842876001/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58673578
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/13/haiti-
migrants-deported-survival
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/16/world/americas/haiti-president-
politics.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-title-42-border-policy-migrants-
screened-us-protection/