Thread: North Miami Mayor Invites 55,000 Immigrants Into City

North Miami has a large Haitian population and a high crime rate. Police regularly get calls about assaults, shootings, homicides and armed robberies. The county district six channel often gets updates on some of those calls and often times they ask the county to assist in setting up a perimeter.

http://cbs4.com/local/immigration.haiti ... 83846.html

Jul 1, 2010 9:17 pm US/Eastern
N. Miami Mayor Invites 55,000 Immigrants Into City
Reporting David Sutta
NORTH MIAMI (CBS4)
As President Obama addressed the nation for the first time on immigration reform Thursday; North Miami's mayor Andre Pierre sat in his city hall waiting to hear about Haiti. The President never mentioned it, or Pierre's latest offer to the White House.

"I'm inviting them to come and live and settle in the City of North Miami." said Pierre. "Them" are 55,000 Haitians currently on waiting lists for visas to the United States.

Pierre, a Haitian immigrant and immigration lawyer, is suggesting North Miami be refuge for thousands currently living in tents in earthquake ravaged Haiti.

"Those folks are coming here seeking opportunities. Those folks are coming here seeking the American dream." Pierre told us. He is confident the background search for the visas would ensure the immigrants would be upstanding citizens if given the opportunity. "I can tell you David this is not going to be a burden to the United States,"

Around North Miami CBS4's David Sutta found residents split on the idea.

"I don't know if there would be enough room for them all." said Nancy Aragonese. North Miami's population is approximately 60,000. The influx would nearly double the population.

Henry Alvarez, another North Miami resident felt the Haitian immigrants should be given a chance. "They should have the opportunity that everyone else has," said Alavarez.

Carl Fawcett quipped, "If you had 55,000 people here he'd probably be mayor for a long time."

While Fawcett pointed out the political benefit of importing voters he's concerned about jobs. "One must be extraordinary pragmatic. You have to look at the current situation. The economy is not what it used to be." said Fawcett.

North Miami's unemployment stands 12.8%, which is the highest it's been all year. CBS4 asked if the current residents can't get jobs, how do 55,000 Haitian immigrants? Pierre pointed out the visa process includes a sponsor here in the United States.

"Some of the requirements that must be met is that you have the financial means to support that family member that you have in Haiti." CBS4's David Sutta also asked about the possibility of crime going up with the influx in population. "It is universally known that Haitian people are not likely to commit crimes than other immigrants," Pierre responded.

CBS4 fielded several calls from viewers who pointed out the city council has not extended this invitation meaning Pierre's offer is mostly symbolic, not binding.

Pierre, a Haitian immigrant and immigration lawyer, is suggesting North Miami be refuge for thousands currently living in tents in earthquake ravaged Haiti.

Now, would the man's vocation have anything to do with it?

i lived in Ft. Lauderdale for 23 yrs Miami used to a beautiful place, it is now a filthy and dangerous city, and moving up into west palm beach, S.Fla is doomed

Having compassion for earthquake victims is commendable. But, when are we going to realize that we can't provide this better life and American dream stuff for everybody in the world. I'm afraid it won't be until the United States can offer nothing beyond the worse life on earth and an American nightmare for all. Not only do we have illegal aliens all over the place, we have way too many legal immigrants who want to bring most everybody from their homeland here too. This whole immigration thing has spiraled out of control. We hardly have a country at all anymore -- just an economic enterprise zone & welfare office for the rest of the world at best.