Hopes for political asylum for Haitians fleeing violence
in their country have been shattered by a stark U.S. policy which
prevents most Haitians from even entering the country to submit asylum
applications. In implementing "Operation Able Sentry," the U.S. Coast
Guard intercepted and repatriated close to 2.000 Haitians fleeing the
country by boat following violence which ousted elected President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide at the end of February. Over 90% of those
intercepted at sea were repatriated summarily to Haiti, without having
an opportunity to be interviewed and describe their reasons for leaving
Haiti. This clearly violates the obligations of the U.S. under the 1951
Refugee Convention not to repatriate asylum seekers to a country if
their lives could be in danger. [more ]
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