Immigration

Here is a picture marking the end of the time allowed for Haitian migrants looking to establish their residence in the Dominican Republic before a midnight deadline.

In October 2013, the constitutional court of the Dominican Republic announced a decision that stripped an estimated 210,000 people -- about 2% of the country's population -- of their citizenship overnight, most of whom were Haitians and many Dominicans of Haitian descent. However, the government later softened its decision on mounting international pressure and allowed people with birth certificates to "validate" their citizenship, and those without them to register as foreign migrants, but however, with at least one parent must be a citizen or legal resident of D.R in each situation, within a deadline on June 17, 2015, 7:00 pm.

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There has been an ongoing issues of fraud with Haitians applying for visa in the U.S. ant the American government wants to bring the attention of the Haitian public to this crisis. The anti-fraud department for the agency responsible for dealing with such issues has reported recently to have recorded an alarming record of about 11,000 cases of fraud by Haitians in applying for U.S. Visas.

On May 17, with the alarming rate of visa assistance and application frauds, Robert Hannan, the US Consul General in Haiti has described the right process for applying and procuring U.S visa. There were about 11,000 instances of visa applications where the applicants have given wrong information about their family, financial and professional backgrounds. Mr. Hannan has urged every applicant to provide only truthful information. The U.S department has informed every applicant to contact directly at the US Embassy for every visa update; the department does not authorize any intermediary person or authority in visa assistance service. Visa application fees are to be deposited directly to the SogeXpress only and another at the US Embassy in exchange of the visa.

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This is Haitian Lawyer and politician Andre Michel, following the decision of the US to revoke his visa

Attorney Andre Michel verifies U.S. Visa canceled

Activist attorney, Andre Michel, has had his U.S. visa invalidated by the U.S. Embassy. Andre, who wants to run as a Jistis (39) candidate for the presidency, does not understand the reason for the cancellation.

The embassy would give no information because immigration law requires confidentiality. Another embassy spokesperson though shared visas are rescinded if eligibility requirements are not adhered to.

Andre can reapply for a visa and wants U.S. citizens to know ". . . he is not a threat."

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Many in the Haitian community in Little Haiti are now reacting to new executive order. Haitian activists frustrated as millions are left out of Obama's immigration plan.

Immigration Plan Bad for Haitian Diaspora

The Diaspora in Little Haiti is agitated by President Obama's immigration plan. His executive order says illegal immigrants in the U.S. ". . . for at least five years . . . who have children . . . either citizens or permanent residents may quality for protection from deportation."

That leaves millions out of the plan. What those that fall outside the bounds of the plan want ". . . is a chance . . . to work"

The Miami Diaspora leaders will explain the executive order at an information meeting.

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Here is the Island of St Tholas where U.S. Customs agents picked up seven illegal Haitian Immigrants in St. John located in the virgin Islands

Seven Haitian migrants were nabbed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on St. John. Undocumented, they came by boat drop on 11/21/14.

No details were available about their number, age, sex, or the disposition of their situation. But the standard protocol is to remove them from the territory.

The U.S. Coast Guard cites statistics of halting undocumented Haitian immigrants in 2014 as being 949, an increase over 508 picked up in 2013.

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Florida House of Representatives member Daphne Campbell has not been quiet since the November 1 policy passed by the Bahamas that seeks to deport thousands of Haitians who have lived and worked in the Bahamas for years (and children born of such parents in the country) back to Haiti. Campbell has since called for the State of Florida to boycott tourism to the Bahamas until they rework this immigration policy which she says discriminates against Haitian children. While Ms. Campbell has taken her protest up the U.S. political chain, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Fred Mitchell has denounced her campaign as 'stupid' and 'baseless'.

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As part of the new wave of cracking down on illegal immigration in the Bahamas, specially toward Haitians, these two Haitian nationals have been apprehended by Immigration services in the Bahamas. As you can see, the second gentleman did not even have a chance to put shirt on his back before he was taken to a detention center where he will likely be deported to Haiti

Boycott of the Bahamas Targets Child Discrimination

The Haitian Bahamian Society of the Bahamas President Jetta Baptiste supports Florida politician Daphne Campbell, who is asking tourists to avoid the Bahamas, to stop them sending Haitian children to detention centers.

Campbell says the Bahamas will need to answer her delegation in person if they don't change their policies in one week.

Robert Dieudonne of the United Association of Haitians and Bahamians says the women have no ". . . authority to speak on behalf of Haitians and people of Haitian descent in this country."

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Here is a picture of two Children of Haitian descent as they are being deported from the Bahamas. These children are not Haitians and have never been to Haiti. They were born in the Bahamas from Haitian families who are in the country illegally.

Children Of Haitian Descent Handcuffed Deported From Bahamas.

While viewing the images of the children of Haitian descent, being sent cuffed to ordered out of the Bahamas, Daphne Campbell, a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives, has given her strong response to the act. She has condemned it as unfair, injustice and cruel. Punishing an innocent child whose only knowledge is that of the Bahamian soil, and separating him from own family and deported to another country which he has never seen, is totally inhumane. This new policy attempt by the Bahamian authority to curb illegal immigrants in the country, has caused much dissent among the Haitian activists. As per Campbell's statement, until something is done to resolve the issue, all industries should ban the Bahamas.

These innocent children probably feel humiliated as they are walking and apprehended by an immigration officer in the Bahamas. They have become the center of attention as the many in the neighborhood are stopping what they are doing to watch.

As I recollect, It their age, I was very proud and this would have been devastating to me.

Remember, these children have done nothing wrong

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Here is a picture of an immigration officer in the Bahamas humiliating two young Haitian immigrants during an operation in the Bahamas in October, 2014. The Immigration department of the Bahamas is assisted by the police to conduct Immigration Operation against Haitian in the Bahamas. Children, included those who were born in the Bahamas are rounded up and put in a bus to a detention center.

Are the Bahamas targeting Haitians for Deportation?

The Bahamas are becoming paranoid about a huge influx of illegal migrants from Haiti and have stiffened its immigration regulations.

Frederick Mitchell, Bahamian Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, says the overwhelming number of illegal aliens from Haiti threatens ". . . Bahamas national security . . . national identity . . . and . . . social stability."

Haitian-American anthropologist Bertin Louis says the Bahamas "has historically promoted a xenophobic policy toward Haitians in particular."

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Here is a picture of several Haitian Children being taken into immigration custody in the Bahamas without their parents. One can imagine what is going on in the mind of these innocent children as the see authorities taking them to an unknown place without their loving parents.

These children were born in the bahamas by Haitian parents with no status. As a result, these children are citizens of the Bahamas but are treated as illegal immigrants, just like their parents. They are taken into immigration custody.

New Immigration policy In Bahamas least to detention of Haitian children

The new Bahamian policy that so widely affects the Haitian population living there is reminiscent of the country's history of xenophobic behavior towards foreigners in general and Haitians in particular. The recent raids to round up illegal Haitians in the Bahamas was similar to the 1967 clamp down undertaken by the government that led to the deportation of many Haitians. The potential impact for the Haitian community there now will be vast, as, in the capital of Nassau alone, some 50,000 Haitians reside.

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