Immigration

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 the Catholic Saint that means so much for immigrants in such of a better life in the United States. Mother Cabrini is the Saint of Green Card

Did you know that there is in fact a Saint for Green Card?

November 13 has been declared the Feast Day for Mother Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini,

Mother Cabrini arrived in New York from Italy in 1889. Her original mission was to aid Italian immigrants. She later created orphanages, schools, pharmacies. She was credited for a variety of Immigrant Services such as English as a Second Language classes, legal support and help with citizenship applications

Mother Frances Cabrini was born in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano in the province of Lombardy, northern Italy, on July l5, 1850. She arrived in New York in March, 1889, off the boat from Europe with over one thousand immigrants ready to begin a new life. She established sixty-seven schools, hospitals, and other institutions of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, worldwide. At the age of 67 she died in Chicago's Columbus Hospital on December 22, 1917. In 1933, her remains were moved to the chapel of Mother Cabrini High School and following her canonization in 1946, the place became a spot of pilgrimage. She was the Universal Patron of Immigrants in the Catholic Church, well known for her love of God and her service to His people. Today, the Shrine continues as a center of welcome for new immigrants and pilgrims of many nationalities who come to pray and reflect. Recently, when the Feast Day for Mother Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was being celebrated during the second weekend of November at her Fort Washington shrine, amid many immigrant worshippers, Father Julian Jagudilla who is from Manila, while presiding over the Sunday's ceremony, he said, the politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, should stop making immigration a pawn. Instead of offering the poor immigrants what they want, they are playing the game in their own interest. He indicated over 200 pending appeals to his church-- ranging between people without status to parents petitioning for children, lying undecided. He considers the current immigration policy, even from the economic standpoint is senseless.

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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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The Haitian Diaspora has been growing in Brazil exponentially. According to the latest estimate, over 10,000 Haitian immigrants are now living in the region of Paraná as they are trying to have a better life for themselves and their families.

The Haitian Ambassador to Brazil, Madsen Chérubin, recently visited the Governor of the State of Paraná, Flávio Arns to see how he can help in integrating these new Haitian immigrants in the area

Paraná is one of the 26 states in Brazil. Paraná is reputable for its forest araucaria considered as one of the most important subtropical forests in the world. It is located near Paraguay and close to the largest dam in the world , the Hidroelétrica de Itaipu (Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam).

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Beginning January, 2015, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to implement Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program to expedite family reunification for eligible Haitian family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are living in Haiti and have already been approved for a family-based immigrant visa.

Under the Haitian Family Reunification Parole program, qualified Haitians are allowed to enter the United States and apply for work permits while waiting for their legal status to be adjusted.

Starting in early next year, for certain eligible Haitian family members, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will accelerate family reunification for Haitians under a plan named " Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program". The program will expedite family reunification for Haitians living in Haiti having family members who are U.S. citizens or family members living in the U.S. who are lawful permanent resident in the U.S. One of the stated goals of the program is to promote safe, legal and orderly migration from Haiti to the United States. Haitians with two years earlier approved family-based immigrant visa petition for the U.S. to join their families, are eligible to enjoy the benefit without the program. Once in the United States, they will have the opportunity to apply for work authorization.

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Here is a picture representing the usual issues faced by Haitian immigrants that arrive in the United States. This banner reads: Don't deport to death.

There is an agreement between the Haitian government and the U.S. that allow for the United States to deport these people back to their country of origin

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Thanks to the efforts of some government authorities from Florida, both Democrats and Republicans, the Obama administration has agreed to let the Haitians come into the United States, under the H-2A and H-2B visas.

With their eligibility for this visa, U.S. employers can now bring certain low-skilled Haitian workers on a temporary basis to work and send money back home to help with the recovery, following the 2010 earthquake.

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