Obama proceeds with Haitian deportations
Obama proceeds with Haitian deportations
January 26th, 2011 9:07 pm ET.
In a blow to New York-based rights groups, the U.S. government has begun the deportation of Haitians to the still earthquake damaged island nation. More than a hundred Haitians in immigration detention facilities have already been deported. The decision by the administration of President Barack Obama reverses a yearlong moratorium on deportations following the massive earthquake that occurred in January 2010.
Immigrant rights and civil liberties groups protested the decision to renew the deportations since reconstruction of the island has been slow and complicated by the recent outbreak of cholera. The prison system itself has been called the epicenter of the disease as a result of the polluted drinking water passed along to prisoners. The U.S.-endorsed Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment expressly forbids the forcible removal of humans into circumstances in which their lives may be at risk.
“The U.S. government is violating important human rights obligations to protect individuals from being returned to places where their lives or freedoms could be threatened,â€
