HAITI: CORRESPONDENCE FROM LEGISLATOR TO HOUSE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000302 WHA/CAR, S/ES-CR, S/ES-O, AND H E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPDC PREL HA SUBJECT: HAITI: CORRESPONDENCE FROM LEGISLATOR TO HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI ON IMMIGRATION POLICY ¶1. The following correspondence to U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in reference to U.S. immigration policy toward Haiti, was received by Embassy on March 13. Text is an unofficial English translation of the French original. The Embassy will pouch the actual letter to WHA/CAR Desk Officer for distribution. ¶2. Begin Text: Honorable President, Our country, the Republic of Haiti, which we have the honor to serve as parliamentarians, is the subject of considerable attention in the international community, as seen by high profile visitors such as the President of the World bank, the Governor General of Canada, the Queen of Spain, two delegations from the UN headed by its Secretary General and the Security Council, and other leading figures of international cooperation agencies. We have the honor to draw your attention to the fate of thousands of Haitians who enjoy the hospitality of their American neighbors in conditions of illegality which exposes them to deportation. The Haitian Parliament notes the appeals for solidarity with these Haitians which have emerged from all sides, and follows with great interest the evolution and the management of this issue. To say the very least, this issue arouses considerable concern in the entire Haitian community as well as in our international technical and financial partners, who are very conscious of the precariousness of the Haitian socio-economic situation, made worse by the losses and devastation caused by four hurricanes: Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike, as well as the international financial crisis of 2008. These catastrophes have sufficiently revealed the economic and structural weakness of the Republic of Haiti, located in the immediate vicinity of the U.S.A., and have convinced the Haitian Parliament of the need to solicit maximum support from the US Congress in the processing of the cases of the Haitians who are in the US in an irregular situation. The Haitian Parliament recognizes the U.S. sovereign right to control the flow of immigrants into his territory. It recognizes as well the right of parliamentarians to express their opinions on this matter, since it is their job to make laws and to see to their enforcement. However, in the name of inter-parliamentary cooperation and U.S. humanitarian commitment worldwide, we urgently appeal to the solidarity between the US and Haitian Parliaments to open windows of opportunity which would bring better treatment for Haitians subject to deportation. Please note that thanks to the assistance of the international community in general, and the United States in particular, the Republic of Haiti has enjoyed since 2006 institutional and political stability, which could be endangered by the return of thousands of our fellow countrymen. The Haitian Parliament therefore wishes to highlight the constructive character of Haitian-American relations in a climate of mutual trust, and continues to count on the important role of the U.S. Government in maintaining security and socio-political stability in Haiti. The Haitian Parliament salutes the very important role of the U.S. Government, thanks to its customary solidarity, in the economic support given to Haiti in difficult times when its people are in great need. Today once more, we call upon that same solidarity of the American people: we ask that U.S. immigration authorities suspend the large-scale deportation of our Haitian compatriots, while new economic measures are adopted to redress Haiti's precarious economic situation so that these people can be truly integrated into Haitian society. Honorable Speaker, we extend our greetings to you and ask if you would kindly agree to transmit the request of the Haitian Parliament to your country's Government. /s/ Deputy Levaillant LOUIS JEUNE President of the Chamber of Deputies Senator Kely C. Bastien, MD, MSc President of the Senate SANDERSON