12513:NCHR Press Release: INS Commissioner to Visit Detention Faciliti es (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dina Paul Parks <DPParks@nchr.org>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 							Contact:  Dina Paul
Parks
212-337-0005


INS COMMISSIONER TO VISIT DETENTION FACILITIES BUT HAITIAN COALITION STILL
CALLS FOR
REVERSAL OF POLICY

NEW YORK, JULY 12, 2002  -- Eight months after his agency changed its policy
and began detaining hundreds of Haitian asylum seekers in Miami and in
response to repeated requests from the National Coalition for Haitian Rights
(NCHR), several lawmakers and other advocates to address the issue, INS
Commissioner James Ziglar is visiting the South Florida detention
facilities.  On Monday, July 15th, the Commissioner will accompany Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson, Rep. Carrie Meek, representatives from Sen. Bob Graham and
Rep. Alcee Hastings' offices, as well as local business and community
leaders, in touring the Turner-Guilford-Knight (TGK) detention facilities
where the women detainees are held.

"We are pleased that the Bush administration has taken this step to
addressing the plight of these detainees", said Dina Paul Parks, NCHR's
Executive Director.  "But it is only a step.  We are still calling on the
President and Justice Department to reverse this blatantly discriminatory,
Haitian-only detention policy."

In December 2001, the INS abruptly reversed its policy of releasing all
asylums seekers into the community after they had established a "credible
fear of persecution" and began jailing Haitian asylum seekers.  The
Administration claims that it is trying to deter a mass exodus on the high
seas, but Coast Guard figures reveal that the numbers of Haitians
intercepted at sea are on par with those of other nationalities.  Now, while
all other asylum seekers from any every other nation in the world who have
met the "credible fear" standard continue to be released within days in
Miami, virtually all asylum seekers arriving from Haiti are jailed.

"It is not just a matter of the degrading condition of these unfair
detentions, " added Ms. Paul Parks.  "With little access to their attorneys,
those who are lucky enough to have them, and no time to prepare their
claims, since their cases are ultra fast-tracked, it is impossible for these
detainees to have a a fair day in court and real chance at due process.  It
is no coincidence that over 90% of their asylum cases have been denied thus
far."

Over the past few months, NCHR has been working with a number of advocates
from around the country, including the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center,
Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition, Refugee Council USA, and Lawyers
Committee for Human Rights to name a few, to bring collective pressure to
bear on the Bush Administration regarding this policy.   These efforts
include:  stories generated in the national press (Wall Street Journal and
New York Times) and local papers in South Florida; Congressional press
conferences in Miami and DC; a hearing of the US Commission on Civil Rights
in Miami last month; meetings with the representatives of the State and
Justice Departments; as well as a number of Miami rallies.

NCHR believes that these efforts are beginning to pay off, as evidenced by
the Commissioner's visit.  "Clearly, they are hearing the criticism and
trying to figure out how to respond," stated Paul Parks.  "With this visit,
we are hopeful that the Commissioner will see for himself the high human
cost of this mean-spirited, unjust and unnecessary policy and feel compelled
to report those findings directly to the White House.  All of us will
continue this campaign to make sure, however."



_______________________________

Dina Paul Parks
Executive Director
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
275 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10001
ph:  212-337-0005
fx:  212-741-8749
email:  dpparks@nchr.org
www.nchr.org