HAITIAN EXODUS?

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THE TERRY REPORT

LET THEM IN

How can the American government sit around debating whether critically injured Haitians, who might otherwise die, be admitted to the US for medical treatment? What about Haitians who already have close family members here, or who want to bring in a related child who now has no relatives to take care of him in Haiti? For now, the answer from the State Department is no. Rules are rules. You had an earthquake down there? We’re sending help.

This should be an easy call and the American government should do what is right, which is to admit those who are ill, those who had previously applied for visas, those who have been orphaned and then, go from there. It is not inconceivable that the US should consider admitting 100,000 or more Haitians, if other nations in the hemisphere can do, proportionately, likewise.

Here is a clip from today’s (1.23.10) Washington Post story on the subject:

“...a groundswell is building in favor of letting certain Haitians emigrate. Advocates' immediate focus is Haitians who, before the disaster, had applied -- and in some cases been approved -- for a kind of visa available to foreign relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents.”

The time to make a decision is now, or very soon. Taking a large number of Haitians out of the mess of Port au Prince would have good effect for them, the recovery effort and the economy in Haiti, as those here would seek jobs to send money back to relatives still on the island. It would make it easier to rebuild and reduce the monumental task ahead for the relief agencies.

After Katrina, there was talk that there was a conspiracy to “depopulate” New Orleans, because residents who could not fend for themselves were shipped via airplanes all over the United States without being told where they were going. Most people, even many Haitians, see the possibility of fewer people in Haiti, a country that can not support them, as a good thing that could be part of the process of trying to find some sort of balance for the future. In any case, humanitarian motives alone would encourage us to allow people to come here. Special exceptions have to be granted by legislation, but the president and the executive branch could show some courage and leadership by getting behind the idea now.

There is a time for rules and there is a time for compassion. Nothing on the magnitude of the Haitian earthquake, in terms of loss of life, destruction of housing and creation of homelessness, has happened this close to America in the 234 years since our founding as a unified nation. The great Galveston hurricane of 1900, with loss of life estimated between 10 and 20 thousand, fairly pales in comparison to Haiti. When your neighbor’s house is on fire, grab a bucket. We would want, and expect, an equal response if problems of this size were here.

Doug Terry, 1.23.10

LINK TO THE WASHPOST ARTICLE

http://tinyurl.com/yagv6gh

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