For Immediate Release
November 2, 2000

Haitians Urged to Practice Good Citizenship on Election Day

New York City, NY -- The National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) urged Haitian-American citizens to go en masse to the polls on November 7, national election day.

"There’s a lot at stakes in these elections," said Mr. Jocelyn McCalla, Executive Director of the 18-year old human rights organization. "Whether Haitians in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, South Florida, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia see real improvements in their communities and real opportunities for their children, and whether we can look forward to an enlightened US foreign and immigration policy will largely depend on Haitians turning out to vote on election day."

Congress and the Clinton Administration failed to reach agreements on several spending bills before the Senate decided to adjourn and deal with them after the elections. It is highly unlikely that there will be congressional action on these bills before the elections. A measure that remains dear to Haitians is the Latino Immigration Fairness Act (LIFA) which, among other things, seeks to redress past wrongs by extending to Haitians and some Central American refugees immigration benefits that were given to Cubans and Nicaraguans in 1997. LIFA also seeks to restore a provision known as 245i that allows eligible intending immigrants who are already living in the US with their family to adjust their status in the US rather than abroad in exchange for higher fees.

Claiming that LIFA was equal to a blanket amnesty, Republicans countered with the LIFE Act at the last minute. Most immigrant advocates agree that LIFA and LIFE are not on the opposite spectrum: they complement each other. But the Republicans have insisted that LIFA be taken off the table altogether.

"Fair immigration policy is very much on the ballots this year. By showing up at the polls in large numbers, Haitians will send a loud and clear message that neither their lives nor that of their less fortunate brothers and sisters should be taken for granted and played with like a political football," declared Mr. McCalla. "If you are a citizen, and registered to vote, do so first thing Tuesday, November 7. If you are not, then urge your citizen relatives, friends and colleagues to do the right thing and go to the polls," he added.