immigration - Haiti Observer Blog

Michel Cincinnatus Leconte, descendent of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first head of state of the new Republic of Haiti, assumed the office of the presidency, backed by Parliament in August 1911. Prior to his ascendency, Leconte had been appointed Minister of the Interior by President Pierre Nord Alexis, but was pressured to flee to Jamaica when a coup ran Alexis out of office in 1908. François Antoine Simon then held the office.

By 1911 Cincinnatus Leconte returned, amassing an army to remove Simon from office by force. He was successful, arriving in Port-au-Prince a hero. In gratitude, Parliament ushered him into office, with an unprecedented seven-year term.

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In the Dominican Republic the communities inside the sugarcane plantations are called batey. Many Haitians and Dominicans who have migrated from Haiti, work in the sugarcane plantations. Many people from Haiti have been fleeing Haiti to work as seasonal laborers in the sugarcane industry in Dominican Republic.

Poor Working Conditions

Access to healthcare and working and living conditions in the Dominican Republic are very often poor. There is lack of electricity, sanitary facilities and running water. After Christopher Columbus's colonization, the sugarcane plant was introduced.

However it was in the 1900s that the sugarcane industry started in the Dominican Republic with United States acting as a catalyst for developing it. In 1905 the DR was controlled by the United States under the Big Stick policy of Roosevelt. In 1915, Haiti was invaded by troops from America. Political stability was established in the island after the occupation of United States.

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Considered the father of Miami Little Haiti area, Viter Juste, AKA Pere Juste is widely known for establish the name "Little Haiti. Viter Juste was a visionary and a pioneer. Many people would tell you that this man deserves much of the credit for helping South Florida's Haitian community become the thriving group it is today.

Viter Juste wanted Haitians in South Florida to build a vibrant community. According to family, Juste wrote an article to The Miami Herald and named it 'Little Port-au-Prince.' However, the Miami Herald edited the title, calling it instead 'Little Haiti.

Over the past several decades, Viter Juste was very happy to see watch the positive transition of the Haitian community in Miami, moving from Haitian immigrant boat people to become a force politically and economically in South Florida

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This is not scientific but I can safely say that more than eighty percent of Haitians who are eligible to vote in the US actually voted for Barack Obama this past election. People may have different reasons. Some Haitians voted for Obama because they believe that he is for poor people. Others think he is pro immigrant and wanted to thank him for the TPS he gave Haitians recently. Some Haitians also voted for Obama just because he is Black. That's OK too.

However, just like the other groups after voting for a candidate who wins an election, the Haitian community should expect something in return. We have issues within the Haitian Diaspora living in the US as well as back home in Haiti.

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The efforts of Haitian activist Colette Lespinasse have not been in vain. She has labored tirelessly for the last 20 years to fight for the rights of Haitian refugees who have relocated to the Dominican Republic as well as Dominicans who have been treated unfairly while in Haiti.

Lespinasse has finally been recognized by Refugee International, which has awarded her the coveted 2nd annual Richard C. Holbrooke Award together with a $5,000 token in appreciation of her work. The award was created to honor those who demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that they are committed to ensuring fair treatment of refugees, with protection of all their human rights.

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Deportation has been a long-standing practice of the United States of America. With the Alien Act (1798), the president was able to deport an alien classified as dangerous, and the new Naturalization Act stated that 14 years, not 5, was the acceptable period for an immigrant to reside in the US before being considered for naturalization.

With the promise of a better life a shiny beacon to people in struggling countries, the U.S. has seen a steady influx of immigrants of various ethnicities and religions. Thus, the rate of U.S. deportations is well into the millions, with Ellis Island acting as a microcosm from which 12 million deportees, between 5 and 10 thousand per day, were deported during a 32 year period. Many were expelled for failing medical exams due to illnesses they picked up during their sea-voyages. A recorded 3000 took their lives after being turned away.

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Breaking news. An immigration breakthrough for Haitians. The Obama administration, in order to help Haitians to support those back home, announced yesterday, Tuesday, January 17, 2012 that people from Haiti are now qualified for the H-2A and H-2B visas.

What does that mean?

The H-2A and H-2B visas program allows employers to bring certain low-skilled Haitian workers to work in the United States on a temporary basis. This decision of the government to allow Haitians to become eligible for the H-2A and H-2B visas was as a result of the two US Senators and some other U.S. States Representative from Florida who have been pushing for the visa to be extended to the Haitians

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U.S. business people are major contributors to the illegal immigration labor problem that has beset America for years, especially the last four.

American workers watch as good-paying employment continues to be outsourced, and illegals pass border patrols to enter and obtain subsistent-paying jobs. Nationally, unemployment figures are still well above normal levels. The occupy movements that have proliferated across the country are testament that the 99% are crying out for justice.

Congress has not addressed either job outsourcing or illegals' hiring issues that worsen the immigration labor problem. Dave Gibson, a former state-government administrator, observes self-serving politicians have colluded with dishonest businesspeople to exacerbate the immigration labor issue. They are accepting inappropriate monies businesspeople have pocketed through saving enormous amounts of money on payroll expenses employing illegals.

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Is this for real? or furthermore, is this possible? The "Haitian Joudalist" has learned that the Haitian government promised to introduce a new biometric e-passport. What makes it strange to me is that the government promised that the new e-passport will be faster more secure and accessible.

The system will be connected with the FBI and Interpol in real time. Anyone who had any problem with "Uncle Sam" in the past or is thinking about not having a beautiful relationship with him, I have news for you. He will be looking at you.

According to the report, the way the E-passport will work is that each location will be connected to a central processing system. The central processing or Database will analyze the information and send back appropriate information to the the various locations.

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The U.S. Vice-President met representatives of the Haitian community at the White House In January 2011 to discuss progress in the earthquake and other issues. Vice President Biden took this opportunity to reassure the Haitian community the Obama Government's commitment to the reconstruction of Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

Joe Biden is not new to the Haitian community. In April of 2010, In a gesture of support to the Haitian community who were affected by the earthquake, he paid a visit to Little Haiti in Miami. Vice-President Joe Biden came to Little Haiti Cultural Center and met with several Haitian-American activists and elected officials. He greeted Rev. Reginald Jean-Mary, Farah Juste and many others.

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