*Click Here to sign the on-line petition!
To: Temple Beth Torah Board of Directors
From: Temple Beth Torah Social Justice Committee
Issue: The Deportation of 30,000 Haitian nationals
Resolution for consideration by the TBT Board of Directors
Background
1. The country of Haiti has been devastated by four consecutive storms and floods, leaving much of the island uninhabitable and many residents starving, homeless and sick. The degree of severity has been documented in various press reports and editorials. The President of Haiti has stated that it is dangerous to repatriate nationals at this time.
2. Despite this situation, the policy of the US government is to deport 30,000 Haitian nationals back to Haiti because of their immigration status
3. However, in other recent cases, the US government has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to nationals from other countries under similar conditions, and allowed those individuals to stay in the United States. For example, TPS status was granted when El Salvadoran illegal aliens were in danger of being deported after their country had experienced terrible natural disasters much like those of Haiti.
4. In June 1978, the URJ (then known as the UAHC) urged the administration in Washington and Congress to take the following actions:
- To grant full political asylum hearings and the right to be heard to all Haitian nationals seeking asylum in this country and to take other measures that would ameliorate the situation;
- To immediately release from custody without the necessity of posting bond all Haitian nationals seeking political asylum in this country;
- To grant temporary work authorization to those Haitians awaiting the determination of their cases;
- To authorize an immediate stop to the deportation of all Haitian nationals claiming political asylum until there are full guarantees from the government of Haiti that they will not be harmed.
5. While the 1978 URJ initiative was based largely on the political situation in Haiti at the time, recent discussions with a current URJ staff member at the national office indicate that the URJ remains interested in the plight of Haitians in the United States and is working with other faith-based organizations to obtain TPS status for Haitians in the US. The staff person wished the committee good luck in its endeavors.6. On April 15, 2009, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the government is reviewing the policy of repatriating Haitians because of the burden placed on the individuals and on Haiti.
7. The issue is relevant to the Rockland county community since the county has one of the largest Haitian populations in New York State.
8. The Social Justice Committee believes that deporting and forcibly repatriating 30,000 Haitian nationals to Haiti under the current conditions is an important humanitarian issue and one that requires an analysis in terms of Jewish values. Repatriation to a situation that would result in inadequate food or services, and the risk of sickness or death would violate the Jewish values of welcoming the stranger, and brings to mind the forced and painful treatment of the Jewish people throughout our history.
Resolution:
WHEREAS, Haitian nationals currently in the United States would benefit from the granting of Temporary Protected Status as described in the materials accompanying this resolution, and
WHEREAS, the matter is important as a humanitarian issue and as an issue important for Jewish values,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Directors of Temple Beth Torah adopts the proposed action plan of the Social Justice Committee with respect to this matter as described below, in the materials accompanying this resolution,
AND THAT such action of the Board of Directors is effective upon adoption of this resolution.
Action Plan:
The Committee also believes that it is appropriate for TBT to take action on this matter and has prepared the following proposed action plan:
- To establish a petition on the TBT web site for interested TBT members to sign, requesting President Obama to grant TPS to Haitians currently in this country as a humanitarian gesture, to be in effect until such time as the US government deems it safe for such individuals to return to Haiti* ,
- To authorize the President and the Rabbi to send a letter to President Obama that makes the same request,
- To inform our Representatives in Congress and our U.S. Senators that this matter is not only an issue of import to Haitians but is also an issue which resonates with Jews,
- To permit members of the Social Justice Committee to discuss the matter with similar committees of other Reform Congregations in Rockland County,
- To use this opportunity to work on common issues and create areas of shared understanding with the Haitian community in Rockland County.
*Click Here to sign the on-line petition!
