Haitian Deportations - Illegal Detained in Haiti
There is growing concern over the large number of deportations occurring in the country. Record numbers of people in the country illegally are being sent back to their home countries. Many are fighting it, but one group, the Haitians are facing even more struggles than others. Many of those who are being deported by the United States because they are in the country illegally are being detained in Haiti. According to Barbara Gonzalez who is from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, there are numerous Haitians slated to go back. "The US deportation policy applies to noncitizens who receive sentences of a year or more in jail. An estimated 700 Haitians are slated for deportation this year." What is the concern?

Violations on Their Lives
According to Sunita Patel, who is an attorney working for the Center for Constitutional Rights, there is risk to those who the country plans to deport. She says, "The United States cannot deport anyone if there would be a violation of their right to life, or their right to family life, especially if they have children, and their right to fair trial and due process." The problem is deeper. Even though these individuals serve out their full sentences in the US, they are often detained upon arrival in Haiti, even if the Haitian government does not want them for anything. This detaining is not something that Haitian law allows either. According to Harycidas Auguste, who is the Government Commissioner, detaining deportees "is against Haitian law, which requests speedy processing of suspects and bans the jailing of Haitians who completed sentences in other countries." He continues to add "The detentions are completely illegal and arbitrary."

Others Disagree
However, not everyone has the same opinion about these immigrants. Aramick Louis, who is the Secretary of State for Public Safety in Haiti believes that the actions of the Haitian government are right, and he defends the policies. "We can't consider these people to be saints. We have to consider them as they are… We have to control them on some level." He continues to add "Once released, most ex-detainees trying to find a job teaching English or using skills they picked up in the US." Many of those are released from being detained when their families identify them.

Finding Other Options
Those who are these deportees from the United States have few support services. Another group, alternative Chance, run by Michelle Karshan, focuses on this particular area. She says, "It's not a popular subject, and after the earthquake even less so…because it's adult criminals from the States, it's not a poor peasant child." The group she runs helps to provide various services such as conflict resolution and job training, but these individuals are still struggling without government assistance. Many are unemployed and they are unable to find their way. Many who are deported from the US also have families in the United States, even children in some cases, and have no ability to fight the deportation either.