Meek Calls for Fair Treatment of Haitian Nationals

102 Haitian Nationals including 12 unaccompanied teenagers landed by boat in Hallandale Beach, Florida today

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Kendrick B. Meek this morning wrote letters to two senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials following the arrival of 102 Haitian nationals at Hallandale Beach, Florida.

In the letter, Meek asked that the Haitian nationals receive fair treatment under the law.

"In the Miami area, there are Creole-speaking attorneys with specialized expertise who will help insure that these detainees can properly establish their cases and effectively avail themselves of the rights accorded to all refugees under our law. In addition, South Florida is home to a well-established Haitian-American community that stands ready to provide support and assistance to any detainees released in the community by order of immigration judges or who make successful claims for asylum," Meek wrote.

The letters were sent to the Hon. Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary at U.S. ICE and Michael Rozos, Field Office Director of the U.S. ICE in Miami.

Congressman Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) represents parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, including Little Haiti. He is the lone Floridian serving on the House Committee on Ways and Means, and also serves on the House Armed Services Committee.

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March 28, 2007

Dear Assistant Secretary Myers and Field Office Director Rozos:

This morning, over one hundred Haitian nationals came ashore off Hallandale Beach, Florida.

I write to ask that these Haitian nationals be detained in South Florida, and not sent to other states or other regions of the country. I believe that this is absolutely essential to insure the fair treatment of these detainees.

I understand that, because these Haitians came ashore in our country, our laws and regulations require that they cannot be immediately repatriated to Haiti but must be processed and detained by ICE and allowed to apply for asylum in the United States.

In the Miami area, there are Creole-speaking attorneys with specialized expertise who will help insure that these detainees can properly establish their cases and effectively avail themselves of the rights accorded to all refugees under our law. In addition, South Florida is home to a well-established Haitian-American community that stands ready to provide support and assistance to any detainees released in the community by order of immigration judges or who make successful claims for asylum.

None of this expertise and support exists for Haitian nationals outside of South Florida. If ICE should send these people for detention in other states or regions, my concern is that ICE would effectively be denying these people the full and fair application of our laws.

I consider this matter of utmost importance and look forward to your immediate response. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

Sincerely yours,

KENDRICK B. MEEK
Member of Congress

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