UpdateSpeaking of immigration protests, several thousand people rallied in Arizona against the harsh crackdown under controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio. (Link via Reuters).
Critically acclaimed musician Wyclef Jean and his brother, Melky, were two of approximately 250 people present at a protest in Florida against mass deportation to Haiti. According to CaribWorldNews.com:Original Post
Pointing to the widely discriminatory immigration policy in the U.S. that favors some over others, Jean said, `It's important that Haitians get the justice that our Cuban brothers and sisters get. This is not a Haitian cause, it's a human being cause.''Protestors at the rally held outside an immigration deportation center also called for the granting of temporary protected status to Haitians, a move that was rejected in January by then-Homeland security head Michael Chertoff.
And he added, `To help Haiti you can't deport 30,000 people. It's like putting more sand on the beach. It's not right that people that have been here for 20 years get deported and are sent away from their kids. They deserve a fair chance.”
An estimated 30,000 Haitians await deportation despite a worsening political and economic situation there. U.S. and Haitian officials have butted heads over the immigration situation, especially after Haitian authorities refused last month to accept additional deportees.
Wyclef helped create and run Yéle Haiti- a charitable organization that organizes projects such as distributing food to storm victims and granting scholarships for children.
Image- USA TODAY
Online Sources- CaribWorldNews.com, The Latin Americanist, Yéle Haiti, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
