Fair Shake for Haitian Refugees

By granting a one-year reprieve from possible repatriation to about 40,000 Haitians who fled a repressive military regime, President Clinton has done the right thing. Armed with this temporary solution, he wins needed time to try to work out an agreement with Congress that should bring a permanent, rational solution to the Haitian refugee issue.

Sending the refugees back without a hearing would be cruel and unfair. They have been denied the opportunity granted to hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Nicaraguans and others who fled dictatorial regimes or civil wars to security in the United States and were recently granted an amnesty allowing them to apply for permanent residency. Without the presidential initiative, the Haitians would never have a chance to have an immigration judge determine their eligibility for permanent residency.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the House immigration subcommittee, has accused the Clinton administration of “trashing refugee and asylum policy for blatantly political purposes.” But it is Smith, author of more than a few outrageous anti-immigrant statements, who wrote the book on turning that policy to political ends.

Sending 40,000 Haitians back to their island nation at a time when the democratically elected government remains in a precarious position in relation to the former oligarchy could further destabilize government. In the worst instance, it could spur yet another outflow of Haitian boat people. Haiti remains a far from stable place, despite the military and civilian aid and training that Washington has poured into the island in recent years.

Granting a one-year stay to the refugees while their status is debated is a sensible strategy. President Clinton is properly managing the refugee flows from small countries heavily affected by past American policies.