** Written 7:05 pm Sep 2, 1992 by worth in cdp:reg.carib **
September 2 Press Release from Haitian Refugee Center in Miami (excerpt):
190 Haitians detained at the Krome Detention Center south of Miami have been
transferred to COUNTY JAILS in Manatee, Sarasota, Hillsborough and Lake County,
Florida, since Hurricane Andrew. "The 190 now in county jails are locked up;
some are mixed in with the criminal population, including `federal boarders,'
and subjected to overcrowding. All of the jails lack Creole interpreters and
are hundreds of miles from the Haitian detainees' families, loved ones, their
legal counsel and assistance, and South Florida communities. The transfer and
hearing delays caused by Hurricane Andrew lenghten their time in detention and
interfere with pre-screening parole interviews and release recommendations,
including the Asylum Pre-Screening Parole Program, none of which are in effect
at the jails. Miami-based pro bono counsel are unable to represent detainees
at distant jails.
Humanitarian parole is not unprecedented. A few months ago INS released from
Krome about 100 detainees after a fire there. Parole pending immigration
hearings is the reasonable and equitable solution to a disastrous situation.
FOR INFORMARolande Dorancy, Executive Director, Haitian Refugee Center,
(305) 757-8538, 757-8781, 756-7604."
WHAT YOU CAN DO: (1) Encourage press coverage. There's been NONE, and this
is a story you may be able to interest journalists in -- an uncovered angle
in the sea of hurricane coverage.
(2) Ask any contacts you have -- individuals, churches, other groups -- in thoseareas to contact the jails, visit the detainees, activate services and support,
plead with INS for humanitarian parole. At least let these people know that
