U.S. Repatriates 651 Haitians Intercepted at Sea

[Snazzy]

U.S. Repatriates 651 Haitians Intercepted at Sea
Tue Apr 27, 5:47 PM ET

By Joseph Guyler Delva

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard (news - web sites) returned 651 Haitians to their homeland on Tuesday, the largest repatriation of would-be migrants since the start of the February uprising that drove out President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Thirty-seven other Haitians were held aboard a Coast Guard cutter while U.S. officials reviewed their requests for political asylum, Coast Guard spokeswoman Lindy Johnson said.


The Haitians were intercepted at sea aboard three dangerously crowded wooden sailboats on Friday and Saturday. They included more than 60 children and a woman 7 months pregnant.

...

Tuesday's repatriations brought to 1,591 the number repatriated since the uprising began, but there has been no mass exodus.

....

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&e=6&u=/nm/20040427/wl_nm/haiti_migrants_dc

[Streetdoc270]

1. Do the Haitians not have freedom?

Is travel not a freedom? Are you not allowed to leave the country if you want? Why to we keep the Haitians corralled on their island like they are a bunch of prisoners? Or are they not entitled to the same freedoms that the Iraqi people are because they have no oil?

[demdave]

2. Are you really so obtuse you think they were out for a pleasure cruise?

We have the right to protect our borders and enforce our immigration laws. If the Haitians want to sail south or east into the vast Atlantic, I don't think the Coast Guard will stop them. However if, as you are implying, it is none of our business stopping them then I would contend it is not our business to save them when their overloaded boats capsize. Perhaps the Haitian Coast Guard will pull them out of the drink.

[FlemingsGhost]

3. "Give us your poor, your tired..."

"Oh... right, it's an election year. Go home."

Who's being "obtuse," dave?

[Streetdoc270]

5. No actually....

They are trying to escape a bad situation and make a better life for themselves, you know the American Dream.... or can you only enter this country to find a job if you are from Mexico?

[leesa]

7. Oh MY! And what are we protecting our borders from demdave??

WE started the coup in Haiti. WE deposed their democratically elected leader. Don't you think WE have some responsibility gopdave? I'm sure you would be among the sort of person who would make them sail out into the open sea.

[nodehopper]

4. "repatriated"--nice euphemism for "doomed"

Sucks for them they are not from Cuba.

[leesa]

6. But all Haitians are happy now that we have 'liberated' them from the

misery of their democratically elected government! Where would they possibly want to go now that they live in paradise??