Resolution
Adopted by the CCAR
Haitian Refugees
Adpoted by
the 103rd Annual Convention of
the Central Conference of
American Rabbis
San Antonio, Texas, April, 1992
Preamble
As members of the Jewish
community, we are particularly appalled by our government’s
decision to close the doors of our
country to Haitian refugees seeking asylum. Like
our fellow Americans, we have long taken pride in
the compassionate response of our
nation to the plight of those fleeing persecution. Successive
American governments have
responded
to these tragedies by offering a haven in which to rebuild shattered
lives.
Now we see Haitian refugees coming to our
shores in search of freedom and justice
and finding instead detention and
deportation.
Remembering that not long ago we
Jews were the “boat people” of the world, we cannot
remain silent in the midst of this
injustice.
Therefore, the Central Conference
of American Rabbis urges the government of the United
States to take the following steps:
1. Stop all forcible deportations back to
Haiti;
2. Cease the policy of
interdiction of Haitians on the high seas.
3. Refuse to warehouse Haitians in Guantanamo or any
other facility
that amounts to a
detention camp;
4. Grant
temporary protected status to Haitians in the United States for as
long as
the emergency in that
country lasts.