Posted on 01/19/2010 9:08:38 AM PST by Candor7
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The American Red Cross says a plan to bring 45,000 evacuees from Haiti to Florida, and 4,000 of those to Orange County, is not set in stone. The Red Cross clarified Friday who could be involved in a plan to move people out of Haiti.
The Red Cross is preparing for two things: the repatriation of Americans living in Haiti and the possibility of a mass migration of Haitian nationals.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- VIDEO REPORT: Haitian Refugees Could Come To Orlando HELP OUT: Local Organizations | National Organizations SPECIAL SECTION: Quake Recovery Updates, Donation Info --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The American Red Cross has seen massive migration into the U.S. from areas like Kosovo and Bosnia in the past, but no determination has been made yet in the case of Haiti. But the repatriation of Americans has already begun. Eyewitness News was told that it includes people like missionaries who may have already been working in Haiti before the quake.
The U.S. citizens are being brought into South Florida through Miami and Homestead, where their identities can be verified. Thursday night, five flights arrived with 190 Americans on board.
“I think that we will continue see U.S. citizens coming in over the weekend and through the beginning of next week. And that would be our first focus and first wave and, I think, as the conditions are assessed in Haiti and some decisions are made both with our federal government and the Haitian government about what’s best for their citizens,” Director of Emergency Services Becky Sebren said.
Americans continued to arrive in South Florida Friday afternoon and, as the United States plans its strategy to help Haiti, the state closest to the island nation is taking center stage with a plan to bring tens of thousands of refugees to Florida and approximately 4,000 to Orlando.
Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty says he has some concerns with the possible plan. If Haitians are brought to Central Florida, the county, city and possibly other area communities will have to scramble to figure out where to put the earthquake victims, and it will be a tough challenge.
"It would occur to me that there is a legal process associated with that and it would probably have to come through the State Department in terms of citizenship and visas, work visas [and] that sort of thing," Mayor Crotty said.
What that influx of people brings with it is a very large service demand, particularly in the area of social services in what is already a tough economy.
"We're very stressed financially right now and this is going to add to that stress," Mayor Crotty said. "So this is a balance we're going to have to work on strengthening."
Governor Charlie Crist told Eyewitness News Friday that, while he's talked to the Secretary of Homeland Security about bringing Haitians to Florida, nothing has been decided at this point.
Governor Crist was at a jobs summit in Orlando Friday morning. Crist wouldn't confirm whether Haitian refugees would be coming to Central Florida; he did say that Florida has pledged to do everything it can to help those in need after the earthquake.
"We want to be in touch with the State Department, making sure we're doing what is necessary for these people to get the help they need and deserve," Crist said.
Governor Crist said, because of mild hurricane seasons for the past several years, there are a lot of relief supplies available in Florida. He said some of those supplies will be used to help Haitians in need.
Additionally, the State of Florida has opened a new emergency information hotline about the Haiti quake. It's meant to give Floridians a link to informational resources on the international response and recovery efforts.
The hotline number is 1-800-342-3557. You can call for information between the hours of 10:00am until 6:00pm
Crist is acting like an idiot!!!
Acting?
PING to demographic warfare info.,war waged against America by Obama.
lotsa empty homes they can trash there. which would reduce the “inventory,” and put it to insurors, which seems to be just what some people would call a “solution.”
Are we talking about US citizens from Haiti or Hatians?
This areticle changed its language halfway through.
IMHO. Makes a big difference.
LOL.
“We are NOT bringing Haitians to Florida BUT WE HEF promised to help in any way we CAN.”
Someone should start throwing things at the idiot when he does this!!!!
DEMOGRAPHIC WARFARE!!!!TYRANNY BY THE FEDS!!! SHAME!
Put ‘em in Alan Grayson’s district.
bringing back American citizens fine... bringing Haiti nationals in problem...
“Not set in stone”...but proceeding nonetheless.
....Voodoo Zombie 3rd World Obambi Marxist Land!
These immigrants will serve as tie breakers in all future presidential elections in Florida. 45,000 votes for 0bama now and forever.
I just don’t see how Florida can absorb the cost of these new immigrants, and there are NO jobs for them. What a mess.
Obama plan.
These refugees need to be plopped down in Obama’s front and backyard…in Kenya.
I hope you wonderful Floridians have the guts to keep this from happening at all cost!!! If you don’t, it will cost you folks more than just plenty…more than it would be to stop this from happening.
Individuals are smarter than any government anywhere in any country. But you have to have the will. It doesn’t take much brain power since one is dealing with ediots. All it takes is to sit down, take a deep breath, and think it through. It may take a couple of hours to come up with a plan, but is can be done.
If this were the Phillipines, fine. Former American colony. Large level of English proficiency. This is Haiti. FRENCH colony. FRENCH proficiency. French-based government and legal structures. Send them there!
This is ridiculous. We can help Haitians...in Haiti. They don’t need to come here, and we can’t absorb them. They don’t speak English or even Spanish, they’re generally unskilled and poorly educated people, and there is no way our economy can simply soak them up.
Sending them to Florida or even the US in general is both unnecessary and utterly insane.
Do you think that Obama will stop at 45 thousand?
DHS has OKayed 200 thousand for Tempotary Protected Status so they can apply for green cards ALREADY!
Check it out!!!
Temporary Protected Status - Haiti
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Janet Napolitano, has determined that an 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti is warranted because of the devastating earthquake and aftershocks which occurred on January 12, 2010. As a result, Haitians in the United States (and other individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Haiti) are unable to return safely to their country. DHS will continue to work with other branches of the United States Government to closely monitor developments in Haiti to determine the need for additional action.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will efficiently and timely process immigration applications for TPS filed by nationals of Haiti. Further detailed information will be posted in the Federal Register Notice announcing the Secretary’s decision to designate Haiti. DHS estimates that approximately 100,000 to 200,000 individuals will be eligible for TPS.
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