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TIMELINE IN THE CASE OF REVEREND JOSEPH N. DANTICA
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 2004
- 5:00AM: United Nations troops and Haitian Police forces
launch a major military operation in Bel-Air, the neighborhood
where Joseph Dantica has lived for the last 30 years and where
he runs a church and school.
- 9:00AM: As Sunday services begin, a member of a local gang
called RPK, who is being chased by UN and police, runs into
Dantica’s church. The UN forces park an armored vehicle outside
the church.
- 9:30AM: Gang member is killed as he leaves the church. The
UN and police forces demand to enter the three-story church and
school building because it gives a clear view of the alleys
below where gang members are hiding. "We could not turn them
down," says Dantica’s son, Maxo Osnac Dantica. "If we said no to
the UN or the Haitian police we would be considered part of the
gang and be dealt with the same way." The shooting from the roof
of the church goes on with heavy fire for approximately 15-20
minutes while Dantica and his son and church members cower
inside the building for shelter. Neighbors later tell Joseph and
Maxo that at least 15 gang members are killed and 6 wounded.
- 10:30AM: UN and Police forces withdraw from the church and
move to other locations in other parts of the neighborhood.
- 11:AM: Gang members come looking for Joseph Dantica and his
son Maxo demanding that they pay for the burial of the 15 killed
or be beheaded. Maxo flees with his five children. Joseph
remains behind, hoping to negotiate with gang members, some of
whom he has known since they were children. Negotiations fail.
Joseph Dantica asks for a few hours’ reprieve to make some calls
to see what he could do about the gang members’ complaints. Out
of options, he runs into his house, gets his passport and a few
items of clothing and runs to a neighbor’s house to hide.
- 3:00PM: The gang returns and not finding Dantica ransack the
church, burns the altar and the school office. Everything is
removed from the premises, including the doors.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2004
- 5:00AM: One of Dantica’s neighbors smuggle him to another
house in Bel-Air, where, according to his son, he "is forced to
hide under a bed for three days."
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28TH , 2004
- Neighbors and Dantica’s sister smuggle him out of Bel-Air
and to his sister’s house in Delmas, where he is reunited with
Maxo, who himself had been hiding in the countryside in Léogane.
Both holders of valid US/Multiple entry visas—Joseph Dantica’s
expires in 2008--they decide to leave for Miami together on
Friday, October 29th, 2004.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29TH , 2004
- 12:32Am: Dantica and his son Maxo board American Airlines
flight 822 to Miami.
- 3:30PM: Flight 822 lands in Miami. As they go through
customs and immigration, Dantica and his son are asked how long
they will be staying in the United States. Dantica, who has been
visiting the United States regularly since the 1970 senses that
he will be staying longer this time, declares that he has no
where to go and fears for his life and requests "temporary
asylum".
- 9:00PM: Department of Homeland Security officials contact
Dantica’s brother in New York, Frank Dantica, to verify his
story and confirm his identity.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30TH , 2004
- 1:30AM: Dantica’s niece, Edwidge Danticat, a Miami resident,
receives a message from Immigration and Customs stating that her
uncle is at the airport. She is not able to reach the phone on
time and no contact name or number is left. She searches the
Internet and is able to reach someone at Customs who would not
give his name. He says he knows of the case but is too busy to
talk to her as "two flights are coming in and I am the only
person here."
- 2:00AM: Edwidge and her husband rush to airport hoping to
retrieve Dantica. They are told by a second officer who answers
the phone when they call from near the customs office at the
airport, that Dantica will be not be released but will be taken
to Krome. "We just called to notify you that he is here." She
asks to speak to him and is refused. "He’ll contact you," she’s
told, again by an officer who would not give his name.
- 12:00PM: Dantica and his son Maxo are taken to The Krome
Detention Center after spending more than 20 hours in a holding
room at Miami International Airport. When they arrive at Krome,
they are separated. Dantica is taken to the medical "ward" at
Krome, though, according to his son, "he did not appear sick."
In the Krome medical ward, where he occupied a single room,
without a bathroom—noteworthy, according this his son, because
his prostate inflammation required that he urinate often—his
Haitian medications for prostate inflammation and blood pressure
are taken away from him and his son is told he will be given
"American equivalents." A lawyer is retained, but can not see
Dantica until Monday morning.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1 , 2004
- 1:00PM: Attorney John Pratt visits with Dantica and his son
Maxo at Krome. Dantica uses an artificial larynx, a voice box,
and has trouble being understood by the Haitian translator he is
assigned. According to his son, the Krome-assigned translator
"insults him". His son is called in as his translator. Lawyer is
seeking humanitarian parole for Dantica, based on his age and
circumstances. Dantica’s "credible fear" hearing before an
asylum officer is scheduled for the next morning.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 , 2004
- 9:00AM: In the waiting room before the hearing, Dantica
tells his attorney John Pratt through another Creole-speaking
detainee that he his not getting his medicine. When they are
called into the hearing, Dantica begins vomiting, falls back
against a wall and passes out. Dantica is then taken to the
Public Health Service at Krome, where his attorney is not
allowed to visit him. The attorney insists that his son Maxo be
called in to give a sense of his medical history. According to
Maxo, Dantica is briefly brought in, but then is made to leave
by the deportation officer who says, "he is useless here. He’s
not able to make him speak." Maxo tries to communicate with his
father, but his father only seems to have enough energy to
"shrug". His repeated requests to stay with his father are
refused. Medics suggest to both Attorney John Pratt and Maxo
that Dantica is faking his illness.
- 4:00PM. Maxo is notified at Krome that his father was taken
to Jackson Memorial Hospital. No efforts are made to obtain
medical information or history from Maxo, the closet relative
and next of kin. Dantica’s attorney is notified that he will
remain overnight at Jackson Memorial Hospital for "observation".
Requests for family visits are denied
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2004
- 3:00PM: Requests for the lawyer or
family members to see Dantica at Jackson Memorial Hospital are
again denied. No details are given either to his son, niece, or
lawyer about his condition. His niece calls Ward D—the detention
ward of the hospital where he is being held-- to seek some
information and is told that she can only get information from
the Department of Homeland Security as "he is their prisoner."
- 8:45PM: Joseph Dantica dies.
Send
a letter now to President George W. Bush demanding Justice for
Dantica and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians!
For more information, please see:
NCHR Statements on Dantica and TPS:
Timeline: Events Preceding
Dantica's Tragic Death Events Preceding The Death of the Rev.
Joseph N. Dantica
Other Statements:
Dantica and TPS in the Media:
-
NY
Daily News, Nov. 28, 2004 --
A Death Bares
America's Biased Policy
-
Associated Press, Nov. 27, 2004 --
Death of Man, 81, in US Custody, Another Haitian Tragedy.
-
New
York Times, Nov. 24, 2004 --
A Very
Haitian Story, by Edwidge Danticat.
-
New
York Newsday, Nov. 21, 2004 --
Rev. Dantica, Haitian Who Died in Fed Custody.
-
New
York Post, Nov. 21, 2004 --
Tears, Rage Over Haitian
Refugee Who Died in Fed Jail.
-
New
York Times, Nov. 21, 2004 --
New York
Was Our City on the Hill, by Edwidge Danticat
-
The
Guardian, Nov. 20, 2004 --
Preacher's Death
Prompts Protest.
-
Associated Press, Nov. 19, 2004 --
Family, Activists Seek Answers in Death of Haitian Minister
-
New
York Daily News, Nov. 19, 2004 --
Fury Over Haitian Author's
Kin.
-
St.
Petersburg Times, Nov. 19, 2004 --
Haitian Pastor Dies on US Doorstep.
-
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 17, 2004 --
Human Rights Groups Urge Probe Into Death of Haitian in US
Custody.
-
Associated Press, Nov. 17, 2004 --
Probe Sought in
Haitian Detainee's Death.
-
Miami Herald, Nov. 17, 2004 --
Probe Requested in Death of Haitian Man in Federal Custody
-
Miami Herald, Nov. 14, 2004 --
Twice a Victim, First in Haiti then the US
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