Despite the emergency petition filed in early January by several human rights organizations, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, Alternative Chance and The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center (FIAC), to try to prevent the resumption of deportations to Haiti of condemned criminals in the United States, U.S. authorities have made the repatriation yesterday of 27 Haitians.

26 are ex-convicts who were sentenced for various crimes, who have served their sentences in the United States, were repatriated to Haiti yesterday. These deportations were immediately criticized by members of the Haitian-American community and the defenders of immigration.

Charles H. Kuck's lawyer Lyglenson Lemorin (35 years) [27 th Haitian], confirmed that his client Mr. Lemorin, appeared well on the list of those deported, as he had been acquitted in 2007 on a charge of conspiracy to destroy the Sears Tower in Chicago. The removal of Mr. Lemorin is "a high water mark in the injustice inherent in our broken immigration system" has informed his lawyer "deporting an innocent man should never be condoned".

In a statement, Barbara Gonzalez, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said the removals were consistent with ICE's priority of removing aliens who pose a threat to public safety adding that ICE will continue the deportations on a periodic basis.

Florida State Rep. Daphne Campbell, whose district includes Miami's Little Haiti, said she didn't wish to comment on the deportation of those convicted of crimes, but that she did reach out to Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama in hopes of discussing immigration policy toward Haitians.

Washington is committed to expel for the moment only the criminals who have served their sentences. But all illegal Haitians or allowed provisionally after the earthquake, could also be affected later this year.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2063-haiti-usa-resumption-of-the-deportations-of-haitian-convicts.html

S/ HaitiLibre