The Double Standard

“On March 28, 101 Haitians landed on a South Florida beach after a grueling 22-day voyage which claimed the life of one of their fellow travelers. But unlike Cuban émigrés who make it to U.S. soil (who are generally allowed to stay in the country and to apply for green cards after a year), these destitute Haitians have been detained by immigration officials for "expedited removal. U.S. immigration policy has consistently turned Haitians away from its shores. Conversely, Washington's "open door" immigration policy for Cubans has become a mechanism for undermining the Cuban government." –Ben Terrall

1^st glance:

This excerpt above was taken from Ben Terrall’s article: “Cuban Refugees Get Hero’s Welcome, Haitian Refugees Turned Away.” Immediately, I started to research other sources in which I could find more information about this double standard treatment of refugees. As I continued reading the article, I became angered at America’s treatment of Haitian immigrants through each Presidential administration. In all honesty, if anyone lands on American soil, they should all have the same treatment.

Haiti is a country that is suffering from internal and external conflicts. Internally, Haiti has political issues. The relationship between the government, which consists of: The President and Parliament, as well as the constituents, are very rocky. Killings of residents that are often sanctioned by the militia and small power groups, force Haitians to seek protection in whatever places that can receive it from; for most, America is the only option. Getting a visa the legal is very difficult because the government controls who does what and who goes where. They often times inflate the price of retrieving official documents in hopes of keeping them in the country. So, the only option is getting out of the country through boat, into another country illegally.

It affects my life:

This story hits home to me, because my father came into America illegally. He told me right before I headed to college my freshman year that he risked his life in order for my brothers and I to have a better one. In the 1980s, Haiti experienced a mass exodus. Many lost their lives in the oceans as they often times left their homes in the middle of the night to board a raft, or ship, and sail for 20 or more days at sea with only salt water as food and nourishment. Just two weeks ago, my father became a US citizen. With the double standard treatment on Haitians, my father could have possibly been sent back to Haiti, where he could have been killed, and I would have never existed.

What is being done?

Florida Representative Alcee Hastings introduced an act called: Haitian Protection Act of 2007. It would allow TPS (Temporary Protected Status) to about 20,000 Haitians who are facing deportation from the United States. According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, “TPS would provide relief to nationals of countries suffering natural disasters or political violence. The status suspends deportations of people who have overstayed their visas or entered illegally, for renewable 12-18 month periods.” TPS provides important relief to such visitors, their families and their governments, at very little cost to U.S. taxpayers. It would allow Haitians in desperate straits to keep working to support themselves, and to keep sending money back to their families.