Another addition to the reign of cruelty by the Trump Administration, and one that cuts close to home: DHS ended Temporary Protected Status for some 60,000 Haitian immigrants, including some 5,000 in Massachusetts.
Racist former DHS Secretary John Kelly had set the date of expiry in January 2018. With some pushback from our Congressional delegation and Gov. Baker, there’s been an 18-month reprieve; still cruel and dislocating, but better than nothing.
From Baker’s letter to DHS:
It is not consistent with the traditions and values of the United States to order the return of large numbers of foreign nationals who have been following our laws and contributing to our economy and culture to countries that are dangerous, politically unstable, and incapable of providing basic services and protections for their citizens,” Baker wrote.
Massachusetts stands in solidarity with our Haitian neighbors. One of the many norms we’ll have to rebuild post-Trump is the affirmation that the US will be a haven for those fleeing violence, oppression and disaster.
*By the way: Let’s get beyond defining a human rights problem by its economic effects: “it’ll hurt people and cost money”, that kind of thing. I’ve seen this in a number of news stories and statements of advocacy. I obviously can’t blame advocates for immigrants for bringing it up; they’re using whatever argument they think will resonate.
But this is about right and wrong, about humane treatment of the vulnerable. People are valuable, an end in and of themselves, regardless of how much or whether they create measurable economic value.
This commodification of human dignity is an analytical habit borne of the capture of our politics by business. Not everything can be measured in dollars. Every human values their own life infinitely. Mercy is priceless.
seascraper says
Nine years after the earthquake. If things are not rebuilt from the earthquake then they are never going to be rebuilt. Your only argument at that point is that the USA is here as an antipoverty program for the world. If you keep some and deny others then you are just as guilty as Trump.
If you keep the Haitians because they will vote Dem when they become citizens then you are using humanitarian piety for political gain and access to money and power for yourself (disgusting and cynical). ( “We are the richest country”…. blah blah blah. Emotional sentimental appeals to get more money for yourself. )
Maybe the USA should be the antipoverty program for the world. Do you think Haiti did everything Obama and the Clinton Foundation told them to do? Why is the place still a basket case and projected to be a basket case forever into the future? Maybe you would think twice before telling other people how to run their lives (not holding my breath).
Christopher says
If it were up to me, the earthquake wouldn’t be relevant and 60K Haitians would be allowed to come and stay just because they want a better life. That to me is the ideal of America.
seascraper says
Open borders then. Thank you for your honesty.
It’s arguable but basically a loser. That’s why the earthquake is there as an excuse.
There are earthquakes every day. There will always be a reason to come to the US until you finally manage to wreck it enough to make it equally bad as the rest of the world.