On the recordSeptember 20, 2021
I want the Haitian community in America and in the United States to know that we have not forgotten them. Haiti has been a strong ally of the United States that, unfortunately, has been caught in the quagmire of destructive poverty and, of course, governments that sometimes have not worked. Recently, they experienced a horrific earthquake; 800,000 people homeless. So now that we see Haitians by the thousands coming to our border, we have an obligation not to deport them. We have an obligation to provide the potential review that comes about by having the number of immigration personnel to determine their status. We have an obligation for humanitarian relief. I know our borders are closed; I recognize that. But I also know that there is opportunity for asylum through credible fear, and there is also an opportunity to deal with whether or not these individuals have family members. Let me simply say, Madam Speaker, the question we have now is sending these Haitians to a country that is so impoverished and violent is not the right way to go. Let's work together to do it right. ____________________
