250 gather in Pompano to urge a halt to deportations to Haiti (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

250 gather in Pompano to urge a halt to deportations to Haiti

By Georgia East | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
6:36 PM EST, February 28, 2009

POMPANO BEACH - Rapper Wyclef Jean made a surprise appearance at a rally in Pompano Beach on Saturday, where about 250 people called for the U.S. government to stop deportations to Haiti.

"It's important that Haitans get the justice that our Cuban brothers and sister get,'' said Jean. "This is not a Haitian cause, it's a human being cause.''

Haitian officials at the rally said it's time for the United States to grant temporary protected status to Haitians, a move that would allow many to stay here and work legally.

Many said that Haiti has not recovered from the back-to-back storms that hit the impoverished nation last year, and that it's inhumane to continue to deport men and women back to the island country.

Across the United States, more than 30,000 Haitians have been ordered to leave, with about 600 of those in detention as of Feb. 9, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Additionally, 243 were under a form of house arrest and were being monitored with electronic ankle bracelets.

The rally was held in front of the Broward Transitional Center on Powerline Road, where many detainees are held.

"It's not fair,'' said Lourdes Eloi, of Coral Springs, about the immigration policy. "Prejudice is what is holding them back from giving us TPS.''