Bishop Protests Treatment of Haitian Migrants

November 5, 2002

MIAMI – Bishop Leo Frade of the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida is protesting the treatment of more than 200 Haitians who came ashore near Miami's Rickenbacker Causeway on October 29.

The migrants had left Port-au-Prince 18 days before and picked up three Cubans on a raft along the way. The migrants, including 150 men, 35 women and 26 children, are being held at a detention center and at Miami hotels. Another 19 people fished from the waters off Miami are being held aboard a Coast Guard cutter, awaiting repatriation. The Bush administration changed its detention policy on Haitian refugees in December, 2001. Before the policy change, Haitian migrants applying for asylum were released into the community while their petitions were processed.

"As a Christian, as an American and as an immigrant to this country, I am deeply disturbed by our government's unjust treatment of the Haitian refugees who came ashore in our community this week," Frade said. "These people, whose desperation and courage led them to undertake a dangerous voyage to escape the political violence in their own country, are now in jail. Because of an INS regulation directed only at asylum-seekers from Haiti, they will remain in detention for an indefinite period, while their claims are processed, which may take many months. To add to their distress, families have been separated, with men held in one facility while their wives and children have been taken elsewhere.

"Scripture teaches us again and again to welcome the stranger, reminding us that God's love and hospitality are without limits, and that all people are our neighbors. While it is not realistic to think that Miami-Dade County – or the whole United States – can reasonably accept everyone who would like to come here, I believe we are obligated as Americans, of whatever faith, or no faith, to treat with respect and fairness everyone who comes to our shores," Frade added.

Frade, who came to the U.S. from Cuba in 1960, urged President George Bush to direct the INS to "rescind the unjust directive that singles out Haitian refugees for such punitive treatment."

Episcopal News Service