Further confirming a story we have posted on previously, the Obama Administration is holding firm (so far!) when it says Haitians trying to reach the US illegally will be detained and eventually repatriated. Hat tip: Sue.
I’m guessing that the Obama White House has studied the history books and knows what the Mariel Boat Lift did for Jimmy Carter—added one more nail in the coffin of his Presidency.
From AP at the Washington Examiner:
MIAMI — U.S. authorities are readying for a potential influx of Haitians seeking to escape their earthquake-wracked nation, even though the policy for migrants remains the same: with few exceptions, they will go back.
So far, fears of a mass migration have yet to materialize. However, conditions in Haiti grow more dire each day and U.S. officials don’t want to be caught off guard.
Between 250 and 400 immigration detainees are being moved from South Florida’s main detention center to clear space for any Haitians who manage to reach U.S. shores, according to the Homeland Security Department. The Navy base at Guantanamo Bay could house migrants temporarily — far from suspected terrorists also being held there — and the Catholic church is working on a plan to accept Haitian orphans.
The mass migration plan, known as “Operation Vigilant Sentry,” was put in place in 2003 because of previous experiences with Caribbean migrations, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Chris O’Neil, spokesman for the Homeland Security Task Force Southeast that would manage any Haitian influx.
“There is no new incentive for anyone to try to enter the United States illegally by sea,” O’Neil said. “The goal is to interdict them at sea and repatriate them.”
Raymond Joseph, ambassador of Haiti in Washington, recorded a message in Creole over the weekend, warning his countrymen: “Don’t rush on boats to leave the country.”
But, it appears the Catholic Church is bent on bringing the kids. Note that one proponent of the plan says that some of the “orphans” are “possibly without parents.” What do you mean possibly? I recommend again, that the Catholic Church, using private donations establish a first class orphanage in Haiti and work to reunite children with their families.
U.S. policy notwithstanding, the Catholic Church in Miami is working on a proposal that would allow thousands of orphan children to come permanently to this country. A similar effort launched in 1960, known as Operation Pedro Pan, brought about 14,000 unaccompanied children from Cuba to the U.S.
Under the plan dubbed “Pierre Pan,” Haitian orphans would first be placed in group homes and then paired with foster parents, said Mary Ross Agosta, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Miami.
“We have children who are homeless and possibly without parents and it is the moral and humane thing to do,” Agosta said.
Officials said many details would have to be worked out and the Obama administration would have to grant orphans humanitarian parole to enter the U.S.
Update: Well, what do you know the “orphans” were granted Humanitarian Parole yesterday by Homeland Security’s Janet Napolitano, here. Next we will have publications like this Socialist one I just told you about saying the US is stealing Haiti’s kids.