Obama - Haiti Observer Blog

The Black Immigration Network (BIN) is fighting the Obama administration (OA) on its immigration policies. In 2010 a cataclysmic earthquake took 250,000 Haitian lives and caused displacement of many more millions from their homes. Families have been torn asunder, yet to be reunified. BIN has written Obama, pressing for the Department of Homeland Security (DOHS) to create and put into action a Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program. "The time to . . . reunite Haitian-Americans with . . . family members is now," the letter said in part.

A secondary issue is deportation of immigrants--387,000 of them--in the last five years. Just weeks after the quake, the OA deported 250-plus immigrants, some of whom were deathly ill. The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting discovered OA went against its policy of finding other ways to avoid deportation under life-threatening and humanitarian emergencies. DOHS has issued 110,000 visas for reunification of families, but people are on a waitlist, extending at least 12 years.

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Major policy shift announced by the Obama Administration toward Haitian Immigration in the US. On October 17, 2014, which is the day Haiti founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines was assassinated in Pont Rouge, the Obama administration issued an executive Order approving the Haitian Family Reunification Parole program.

Beginning January 2015, U.S. Department of Homeland Security will implement a Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program to expedite family reunification for eligible Haitian family members. It is expected to cover over 5,000 Haitians currently living in Haiti.

Under this new Haitian Family Reunification Parole program, some people who have been waiting for years in Haiti will be allowed to travel and wait in the US instead for their legal status to be adjusted. While in the US, these people will be allowed to function and work legally.

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The Haitian-American Patrick Gaspard is the most likely pick as a US ambassador to South Africa. Patrick is currently the executive director to the Democratic National Committee.

Gaspard is known to be a famous player in the politics of New York City and has formerly worked as Obama's White House political director. In his political career he worked for David Dinkins' in his Mayor campaigns.

In other responsibilities Gaspard served in the Service Employees International Union. He in 1980's and 90's participated actively to topple the apartheid regime in South Africa. He also, while working in the White House, played a major role in efforts to give relief to Haiti after the major earthquake destruction in 2010.

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I would like to share with you the entire video of the victory speech of President Barack Obama.

In this video, Barack Obama addresses a large crowd in Chicago as he was declared winner of the 2012 Election in the US.

What do you think another 4 years of President Barack Obama will look like?

Do you think that Haiti will become more stsble as a consequence?

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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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This is the day we all have been waiting for. This is election day in the United states and according to every single election poll results, the race is extremely close. We have a 50 percent chance that the next president of the United States could be either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney.

So the question is what is the implication for Haitians and Haiti if the next president of the US is Mitt Romney Vs Barack Obama?

Haitians all over the US overwhelmingly voted for the Democratic candidate Barack Obama. Will we be better off if Obama wins?

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US First Lady Michelle Obama arrived in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince for one day visit. She arrived aboard a helicopter, accompanied with the wife of the vice President, Jill Biden, in a gesture of support to the victims of the earthquake. The visit was made at the last minute for security reasons.

The two ladies took a tour of the devastating area, before landing on the yard of Haiti National Palace to meet President Rene Preval.

The First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden took the time during their visit to meet several children who were directly affected by the earthquake. They visited several schools and participated in some class activities as signs of encouragement.

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U.S. first lady, Michelle Obama, made an unannounced visit to Haiti. The visit of the U.S. First Lady was meant to underscore to the Haitian people and the Haitian government the enduring U.S. commitment to help Haiti recover and rebuild, especially as we enter the rainy and hurricane seasons.

Shortly after arriving, Michelle Obama took a helicopter tour of Port-au-Prince, where buildings are in ruins and many earthquake survivors live in sprawling tent cities.

Michelle Obama, with President Rene Preval of Haiti, and his wife, Elisabeth Debrosse, at the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince.

Accompanied by Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, Mrs. Obama entered a play area set aside to provide therapy to children now living in a giant squatter camp in Port au Prince.

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Vice President Jo Biden and officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development will meet with the Haitian community leaders at a new cultural center in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood.

The vice president hosted a similar meeting here in January shortly after a magnitude-7 earthquake struck Haiti.

Vice President Joe Biden will be meeting with Haitian-American community leaders in Miami to discuss reconstruction efforts in Haiti. This is a sign that the Obama administration will not forget us as promised

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