Posted on 01/29/2010 8:08:28 AM PST by Poundstone
THE UNITED STATES has reacted swiftly and generously to Haiti's calamity, both with a colossal charitable response from individuals, enterprises and organizations and with a substantial commitment of troops, money, medical help and high-level attention from the government. But the Obama administration can and should do more, and quickly, to ease the vast burden of relief and rebuilding and to channel cash to Haitian families in dire need.
Specifically -- and at a minimum -- it could accomplish those goals by allowing Haitians with relatives in the United States to join their families here as quickly as practicable. Instead, it has imposed what amounts to a freeze in issuing visas to Haitians, thereby keeping them bottled up in one of the world's most destitute and devastated places. This is counterproductive in the extreme and will only increase the risk of boat people heading toward American shores.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
You know what, I agree with you. I don't want an open door, but I'll take Haitians over sharia muslims, anytime.
‘Should welcome haitians in’
The hell we should.
Now we know why the Obama administration dragged its feet on helping open the seaport and setting up tent refugee camps.
It was obvious immediately after the earthquake struck, when 90% of the structures had collapsed in an area of more than 3 million people, that the only way to save these people from disaster would be to reopen the seaport as soon as possible and establish tent cities from which the people could be provided clean water, medical treatment, food and safety. Only through bringing cargo ships into the seaport could enough aid be brought in to make this happen.
That this was not done reflected either incompetent leadership by Obama or purposeful neglect.
Now, as the natural result of Obama’s approach, we are seeing a catastrophe among the Haitian people. And of course the Left sees an opportunity to bring in large numbers of future Democrat voters by playing on the compassion of the American people and the implied charge of racism if the Haitians are not allowed to come to the US.
Coincidence?
According to John McCain EVERYONE in the world should be able to come here.
Give everyone in the world an opportunity to come to America
“Those who live closest are the ones who can get here. Everyone in the world should have the opportunity through an orderly process to come to this country.”
Source: AZ Senate Debate, in Tucson Citizen Oct 16, 2004
Change rule barring immigrants from running for president?
Q: Should we change our Constitution to allow men like Mel Martinez, born in Cuba, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, born in Austria, to stand here some night as candidates for president?
McCAIN: He and I have many similar attributes, so I have to seriously consider it.
Source: 2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/John_McCain_Immigration.htm
ALSO:
New from the Center for Immigration studies:
Fact Sheet on Haitian Immigrants in the United States
WASHINGTON (January 25) - Since the terrible tragedy in Haiti, many have sought information about the Haitian community in the United States. Below are some basic socio-demographic statistics:
* The last Census Bureau data (2008) indicates there are 546,000 Haitian immigrants in the United States. That is up from 408,000 in 2000 and 218,000 in 1990.1
* Of the 546,000 foreign-born Haitians in the United States, 48 percent are naturalized U.S. citizens; this compares to 43 percent for the overall foreign-born population.2
* The top states of Haitian immigrant settlement are Florida (251,963; 46%), New York (135,836; 25%) New Jersey (43,316; 8%), Massachusetts (36,779; 7%), Georgia (13,287; 2%), and Maryland (11,266; 2%).3
* Our best estimate is that there are 75,000 to 125,000 illegal Haitian immigrants in the country. In 2000, the INS estimated there were 76,000 illegal Haitian immigrants.4
* When it extended Temporary Protected Status to Haitians, the Department of Homeland Security estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people could be eligible. While most are illegal immigrants, this estimate also includes those on temporary visas such as tourists, foreign students, and guest workers who will not have to go home.5
* Between 2000 and 2008, 183,188 Haitians were given green cards (permanent residence). These figures do not include those who entered on a long-term, temporary basis such as guest workers and foreign students nor does it include short term visitors like tourists. Of those given permanent residence, 135,913 (74 percent) were admitted under family-based immigration.6
* There are 310,000 U.S.-born Americans who have at least one parent born in Haiti.7
* Of Haitian immigrants (ages 25 to 65) 22 percent have not graduated from high school and 18 percent have a college degree. This compares to 9 percent and 30 percent, respectively, for native-born Americans.8
* The share of Haitian immigrants and their young children (under 18) living in poverty is 20 percent. For native-born Americans and their young children it is 11.6 percent.9
* The share of Haitian immigrants and their young children who lack health insurance is 29.5 percent. For native-born Americans and their children it is 12.6 percent.10
* Of households headed by Haitian immigrants 46 percent use at least one major welfare program. For households headed by native-born Americans it is 20 percent.11
* The share of Haitian immigrants who own their own home is 49 percent. For native-born Americans it is 69 percent.12
ping
Don’t let eny of them in and deport the Washing Post and all their personel to Haiti!
I see no reason to turn away Haitians as long as they learn Spanish and vote Democrat.
Anyone who can run anything in Haiti is encouraged to leave Haiti, and then the cycle is never broken. Basically its the white liberals stealing Haitis future so they can have another voting bloc of alienated minority voters who upon arrival in America find that it is a “racist” hellhole. The libs need jailtime for this crap.
This is actually an excellent point. I see this as a possible opportunity for Haitians to have a do over. Not sure if they will take the opportunity, but there is no reason other than corruption that they shouldn’t be able to have a decent country. All of the ones I’ve met here in S. FL are in technical jobs, (cable installation, phone service, etc) and from what I hear the ones who live in the US push their kids to get a good education. There’s no reason they can’t have those values IN Haiti, providing a corrupt govt does not stop them.
The U.S. isn’t required to take anyone who wants to come here. Its not a human right to be an American, but it SHOULD be a human right to have rights like Americans have in their own countries.
Haiti is a paradox. All of the Haitians I have met here in the U.S. are good, decent, hardworking Christians. Like most groups, there are always a few trouble-makers.
I can’t figure out why so many ethnic groups which come here, do so well as Americans in our capitalist system, yet the countries they come from are such economic basket cases. I know in part its because of our freedom, our free enterpise system. But you would think that the people back in the countries they came from would finally get it, expell the elitist gangsters ruining their country, and establish an economic/political system based on our own.
The bottom line is whether it be third world illiterates from Mexico or Haiti the Dems know that 99% of them will vote for the Democratic Party.
Let me get this straight, following every third world disaster should leave an open door for those wanting to come here.
Most of the ones who *might* have actually been producers are probably long gone. So we’d be importing/allowing to stay the leeches, the ones who will be life-long welfare and whine how our country sucks, the ones who will never get an education and actually produce, physically capable as they might be.
Say no to the looters and that mentality!
Sure. Let MORE illiterate or semi-literate, non-English speaking immigrants from failed societies into the US. GREAT idea.
Oh, hell NO.
How about Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island?
As long as they are restricted to those areas, it works for me!
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