Haitian Amnesty

The recent media campaign by Miami-based Haitian activists might lead your readers (editorial, Aug. 27) to believe falsely that there is broad-based support in Congress for a new amnesty for Haitians. In fact, House amnesty legislation has only three Republican supporters, two of whom are from Miami.

There is no justification for a Haitian amnesty because their circumstances have no parallels with Central Americans and Cubans who were granted special relief last year.

Many Nicaraguans, Salvadorans, and Guatemalans were treated unfairly by the U.S. federal government because they were not given a real opportunity to make their case for asylum. Those from El Salvador and Guatemala filed suit and won the right to special consideration of their asylum claims in the future.

Despite the shrill rhetoric of the activists, Haitians have no similar claims. In fact, Haitians have been treated better by the United States than refugees from almost any other nation.

For example, the “Guantanamo Haitians” were paroled into the U.S. where they received work permits, while pursuing asylum claims. No other nationality group has received similar treatment.

Also, during the last 11 years, more than 200,000 legal immigrants from Haiti have been admitted to the U.S., a higher percentage of that country’s population than almost any other country.

LAMAR SMITH, Chairman

House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims

R-Texas