From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Haitian Migration Crisis Subject of Feb. 5 Conference in D.C.
From
"Church World Service News" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>
Date
Thu, 30 Jan 2003 09:01:08 -0500
1/30/03 Media Advisory
WASHINGTON, D.C., CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 5
SEEKS TO PUT HAITIAN MIGRATION CRISIS BACK ON PUBLIC AGENDA
WHAT: National Conference on the Current Haitian Migration Crisis, bringing
together leading policymakers, analysts and advocates to develop
constructive responses to an ongoing humanitarian crisis, which originates
in Haiti and is compounded by U.S. treatment of Haitian asylum seekers.
They are provided less protection than any other nationality seeking asylum.
Oct. 29, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detained more
than 200 Haitian men, women and children who reached Florida. Nov. 13, the
INS announced that all individuals who arrive illegally by sea would be
detained and subjected to expedited removal procedures enacted by Congress
in 1996.
Most of the Oct. 29 boat group - including unaccompanied children - remain
in detention. Legal and humanitarian advocates are struggling to get
sufficient access to these and others seeking safe haven from persecution,
who often are rushed to immigration court before they adequately can
formulate their claim.
WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, February 5, Washington, D.C.
8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 138
12:30 - 2:00 p.m., United Methodist Building, 110 Maryland Ave. N.E.
SPONSOR: The international humanitarian aid agency Church World Service,
providing services to Haitian asylum seekers for more than 40 years. HOST:
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)
SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS:
7 Senator Kennedy.
7 The Rev. John L. McCullough, Executive Director, Church World
Service.
7 Bishop Thomas Wenski, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
7 Luigi Einaudi, Assistant General Secretary, Organization of American
States.
7 Bienaime Pierre-Luis, recent asylee from the Oct. 29 boat group.
7 Candace Jean, Catholic Charities Legal Services.
7 Cheryl Little, Executive Director, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center
-
which in December was ordered to vacate its client meeting space inside
Krome Detention Center.
7 Haitian-Americans Edwidge Danicat, award-winning author, and Garcelle
Beauvais-Nilon, star of NYPD Blue.
7 National Coalition for Haitian Rights Dina Paul Parks (USA) and
Pierre
Esperance (Haiti).
7 Joshua Sears, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States.
7 Marleine Bastien, Haitian Women of Miami and Haitian American
Grassroots
Coalition.
7 Steven Johnson, Heritage Foundation.
7 Wendy Young, Womens Commission for Refugee Women and Children.
At the conference, two groups will release new reports on U.S. denial of
protection for Haitians and conditions in Haiti.
-end-
Media Contacts:
Carol Fouke/New York & on site Feb. 5 -- Phone: 212-870-2252/2227;
news@ncccusa.org <mailto:news@ncccusa.org>
Jan Dragin/New York & Boston -- Phone: 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net
<mailto:jdragin@gis.net>
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