Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Urgent Need for Aid in Haiti

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For Immediate Release Contact: Dana J. Thompson
March 3, 2004 [phone]

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Participates in Subcommittee Hearing to Stress Urgent Need for Humanitarian Aid in Haiti

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jackson Lee, First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Control will participate in a hearing of the House International Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere concerning the crisis in Haiti. Testifying before the Subcommittee will be Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roger Noriega, USAID Assistant Administrator for Latin America, Robert McGuire of Trinity College, and Jeff Sachs of Columbia University. “This hearing is important to make Congress clear as to the grave humanitarian need that exists in Haiti right now. In addition to the loss of stability, peace, and adherence to democratic principles, there is a loss of lives at the hands of lawless thugs in the region,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

Yesterday, the Congresswoman issued letters to Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi urging that they schedule immediate congressional hearings to investigate the events surrounding the alleged removal of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the United States’ alleged involvement. “The purpose of our involvement in Haiti should have only been to help restore peace, give humanitarian aid, and to uphold the principles of democracy and the rule of law,” said Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee stresses the need for the Administration to give Haitian asylum-seekers relief through amendments in U.S. immigration laws. “Haitian asylum-seekers must be given a fair chance to satisfy the requirements for entitlement to an asylum hearing. I am disturbed by the lack of parity between the Haitian refugees and the Cuban refugees. While Haitian refugees are detained and then removed from the United States, Cuban refugees who reach American soil are welcomed. They are admitted or paroled into the United States, and a year later they are eligible for adjustment of status to that of lawful permanent residents. This difference in treatment is unfair and unjustifiable. Temporary Protective Status must be extended to Haitian asylum seekers now to end the bloodshed that comes from their wrongful refoulement, or return to Haiti,” concluded Congresswoman Jackson Lee.

http://www.jacksonlee.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=8031