Berman Criticizes Decision to Return Haitians : Government: The congressman says a hearing will be held today to investigate the new policy of turning away refugees rather than sheltering them in Cuba.

Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) charged Tuesday that the Bush Administration’s decision to return refugees to troubled Haiti “clearly contravenes U.S. and international law and is a violation of every standard of human decency.”

Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on international operations, offered his criticism as he announced a joint hearing today in which senior State Department officials will be asked to explain and defend the controversial policy.

“It is simply beyond comprehension that President Bush is forcing these men, women and children back to Haiti to face oppression, imprisonment and death,” Berman said.

The Administration announced late last month that it would repatriate refugees fleeing the poverty-stricken Caribbean nation who were intercepted at sea by the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials said the action was necessary to ease “a dangerous and unmanageable situation” that has developed since a Sept. 30 coup overthrew the elected government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Previously, most Haitians picked up at sea were taken to a refugee camp at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to await determination of their refugee status. But the camp, where living conditions for many were better than those in Haiti, soon filled to overflowing as more refugees took to the seas in hopes of being taken there.

Bush said he was convinced that “the people in Haiti are not being physically oppressed.” The White House advised those Haitians fearful of persecution to press their claims with the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

About 10,000 of the 34,000 refugees who have fled since last September have been granted political asylum or otherwise permitted to enter the United States.

Berman’s position echoes the earlier angry reaction of Haitian refugee groups and human rights lawyers. The liberal lawmaker has long been a proponent of increased access to the United States for foreign immigrants and of civil liberties generally.

“In the wake of a military coup and brutal repression, thousands of Haitians have set sail in unsafe, unseaworthy vessels in a desperate attempt to escape,” Berman said. The Administration is sending them back “without even the most minimal attempt to find out why they are fleeing.”

Berman added: “How can we criticize the government of Hong Kong for returning refugees to Vietnam? At least they have made some attempt to screen those individuals who have a well-founded fear of persecution.”

The hearing is being jointly sponsored by Berman’s panel and the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on western hemisphere affairs.