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Women’s Commission Calls Upon Bush Administration to Protect Haitian Refugees

New York, NY

As violence in Haiti escalates, the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children today expressed concern about President George W. Bush’s stated intention to return Haitian refugees, and renewed its call to the Administration to comply with its obligation under both international and U.S. law to extend protection to those Haitians found to be refugees. Such protection should be offered by providing Haitians full access to the U.S. asylum system as well as implementation of a robust resettlement program for individuals processed in other countries in the region.

Wendy Young, director of external relations for the Women’s Commission, observed, “For President Bush to announce that he plans to return Haitian refugees back to a situation of political violence and rampant human rights abuses is not only illegal but immoral.” She continued, “The United States has traditionally been viewed as the world’s leader in the defense of refugee and human rights. With that one sentence, President Bush called into question our commitment to protect refugees and threatened our proud stance on human rights.”

Since December 2001, the Bush Administration has systematically implemented a series of measures designed to deter and prevent the arrival of Haitians on U.S. shores. Such measures include interdiction of Haitian boats on the high seas and in the territorial waters of the United States with little to no screening of passengers’ potential asylum claims; resettlement to third countries of those few Haitians provided screening and deemed refugees; prolonged and arbitrary detention of Haitians who are able to make it to the United States; criminal prosecution of some Haitians who use false documents to enter the United States, a punitive measure that disregards the reality that refugees often have to resort to the use of false documents to escape persecution; and fast-tracked asylum adjudications in hearings as short as 30 minutes, including time for translation.

“This Administration has singled Haitian asylum seekers out for discriminatory treatment,” noted Young. “As a result, it is clear that true refugees are being returned to persecution.” In January 2003, the Women’s Commission issued a report, “Refugee Policy Adrift,” that documented that rejected Haitian asylum seekers have been subject to further persecution after their return to Haiti by the United States.

“The ultimate and best solution is to restore stability and democracy in Haiti,” Young concluded. “But in the meantime, the United States must offer protection to Haitian refugees who turn to us for help.”