TPS for Haitians
The Obama administration announced it was granting temporary protected status to Haitians living illegally in the U.S., just as we've done for Central American countries at various times. I hope, probably in vain, that this situation would prompt more discussion of how to reform our immigration policy in general. We allow Cubans who reach the U.S. to stay, but deport Haitians. Further, we deport people to countries unable to deal with them, which only exacerbates political and social conflict, which in turn leads to more emigration. And on a practical level, TPS keeps getting extended because the conditions in the home country don't change quickly.
Janet Napolitano also offers up this comment:
"At this moment of tragedy in Haiti, it is tempting for people suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake to seek refuge elsewhere, but attempting to leave Haiti now will only bring more hardship to the Haitian people and nation," Napolitano said.
It is hard to see how leaving a devastated country makes that country worse off, particular when there are currently too few resources to go around. But the message is clear--don't come to the U.S. We will help address the current crisis, then we'll ignore you until the next one.
10 comments:
Indeed, we should take in a lot more Haitians, but I wonder if Napolitano could have really said anything different. The United States remains a fairly parochial country and it is in the midst of an economic downturn, so the Administration will be naturally reluctant to say that we need to take in thousands more Haitians.
Unfortunately, the tea-bagger types have a lot more influence over the national discussion than we would like to think.
Can't imagine why we'd want to take in thousands of Haitians. Where would we draw the line?
Maybe what Haiti needs to accept is that it can't govern itself and ask to be taken over by some more developed country. It's done wonders for Puerto Rico.
Can't imagine why we'd want to take in thousands of Haitians. Where would we draw the line?
Like I said, parochial country.
Maybe what Haiti needs to accept is that it can't govern itself and ask to be taken over by some more developed country.
Oh, okay. So you object to taking in thousands of Haitians, but you don't object to taking in millions?
Get real, fella. No developed country would want to annex Haiti because no developed country would want to expend the resources necessary to incorporate the poorest country in the hemisphere into their nation.
All countries make immigration policy that decides where the lines should be drawn--how many visas to issue, how many family members to admit, etc. Those are necessary political decisions. The U.S. allows in many, many people, but in an entirely haphazard and often counterproductive way. With regard to Haiti or anywhere else, I would just like a comprehensive and rational decision-making process based on reality. It won't happen, but I can wish.
All countries make immigration policy that decides where the lines should be drawn--how many visas to issue, how many family members to admit, etc. Those are necessary political decisions.
Right, I understand that. If we can have laws that allow for Cubans to come here on supposed "political asylum," we could also have laws that allow people to immigrate here on account of major natural disasters such as the one that we've witnessed in Haiti. We could very easily allow more Haitians into the country while still drawing a legal line. The nature of laws is that they are periodically redrawn.
The question is whether there is the political will to redraw the line in the event of a major natural disaster such as the one we've witnessed. Judging from the words of people like anonymous, I have my doubts.
Here's a possible solution from about five years ago.
This is where other countries in the region need to step forward and lead. Why is there no complaining that Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, etc are not taking in Haitians now? Why does this responsibility have to be that of the US alone?
My post was intended to focus on U.S. immigration policy, but other countries DO step up. Latin American countries have taken refugees from Iraq, for example. But one major and obvious problem is lack of resources.
mike a,
Excellent point. Brazil wants to be a world power, well, now's one time to show how that would work.
Justin,
No need for millions to come over, the US could the over Hait's government and the courts, it would be an improvement over what they have now.
Brazil wants to be a world power, well, now's one time to show how that would work.
Brazil has been leading U.N. forces in Haiti for years.
No need for millions to come over, the US could the over Hait's government and the courts, it would be an improvement over what they have now.
Even if we were to accept your conjecture, it is of no consequence. The scenario you lay out is not gonna happen on any long-term basis because neither the United States nor any other developed country is interested in that sort of commitment to Haiti.
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