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Haiti Could Use the World's Help

Newsday's series on Haiti rightly highlights the need for the United States to do more for Haiti ["International community needs to be involved for Haiti to rebound," News, Jan. 3]. We can start by treating Haitians who flee to this country fairly and not singling them out under discriminatory policies.

All Haitians who arrive on our shores, including children, are detained indefinitely without a chance of release -- the only refugee group to be treated this way. The few Haitians lucky enough to be granted refugee status are most often resettled to third-word countries and not allowed to stay in the United States.

Haitians are routinely intercepted on the high seas by the Coast Guard and often returned with little or no screening of their asylum claims. For those lucky enough to gain access to the U.S. asylum system, claims are usually fast-tracked in hearings as short as 30 minutes, often without legal representation.

The United States must change its policy. Haitians must be given a fair chance to voice their asylum claims and have the opportunity for parole. Those interdicted on the high seas should be taken to a transit center and provided a full screening by trained officials. Haitians already here should be allowed to stay temporarily until the violence has abated and Haiti is somewhat stable.

Megan McKenna

Editor's note: The writer is senior coordinator for the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children.