Haitian detainees begin fast in Miami: Deportation fear, violence at home stir broad protest

Boston Globe ^ | February 22, 2004 | Tatsha Robertson and Ann M. Henson

[sarcasm]

MIAMI -- Dozens of Haitian women at an immigration detention center have begun a hunger strike, saying that deportation to their violence-scarred homeland would be tantamount to a death sentence. Concern grew among local residents, meanwhile, that the unrest in Haiti may have broad ramifications for South Florida.

[stevem]

Haiti is a wreck. It isn't a country. It's completely and utterly hopeless. I recently heard a missionary that works in Haiti say that 90% of the people there are undereducated and something like 70% are illiterate.

To claim that there is a leader to such rabble must be a joke two centuries old. The problem of creating good will for Jews among the PA is simple in comparison to what to do with Haiti.

It makes you want to throw your hands in the air and tell them they are on their own, except we don't want any of them around here. We have problems of our own. In terms of an asset there is one thing to be said of Haiti. Since somewhere has to be the worst place on earth to live, it may as well be Haiti.

Since it's unlikely we will start using Haiti as a place to test Navy ordnance, I'm curious as to any other possible solution to the Haiti problem. I just wonder who but a thief would claim to lead such a place except there can't be much left there to steal.

[BenLurkin]

Sorry, but send them back.

[FITZ]

It sounds like Haitians would be able to legitimately apply for asylum --- unlike many other immigrants who do that when there isn't nearly the same reasons. Will they be allowed to get in on the guest worker program or is that only for one country?

[festus]

;To claim that there is a leader to such rabble must be a
;joke two centuries old. The problem of creating good will
;for Jews among the PA is simple in comparison to what to
;do with Haiti.

;-)

A fellow running for Michigan office once responded to a similar question regarding a troubled region of Michigan....

"Bulldoze the whole thing, pave it, and start over...."

Sadly he did not win the election.

[Catspaw]

A reporter in Cap Haitien (sp) just reported that the rebels have taken over the airport int hat city, have taken over the police station, seized the weapons and released the prisoners.

It's going to get worse, and it probably won't get better.

[backhoe]

Meant to cross-link this earlier:

-Haiti, descending into chaos again--