4/5/10: DISASTER WATCHDOG DEMANDS IMMEDIATE IDENTIFICATION AND RELEASE OF ALL WRONGLY DETAINED HAITI
April 5, 2010
Contact:
Ben Smilowitz, 202-556-3023
ben@disasteraccountability.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
DISASTER WATCHDOG DEMANDS IMMEDIATE IDENTIFICATION AND RELEASE OF ALL WRONGLY DETAINED HAITI EARTHQUAKE EVACUEES
Detentions “Shock Conscience” – Calls For Immediate Investigation, Resignations, And Compensation For Wrongful Jailing
The recent exposure of the wrongful jailing of at least 65 Haitians earthquake survivors after their U.S. military evacuation, all because they lacked a U.S. visa, has not led federal Immigration, State Department, and Homeland Security officials to act to correct this situation. The estimated number of those that remain wrongfully detained ranges from four to twenty-five nationwide.
While a Temporary Protected Status order was issued for the benefit of Haitians already in the United States immediately following the earthquake, the Obama administration certainly did not intend for survivors, evacuated by the U.S. military, to be jailed, and in some cases, shackled, as recently reported by the New York Times. This unnecessary and lengthy imprisonment casts a shadow over the U.S. relief effort and must be investigated and dealt with appropriately.
The Disaster Accountability Project is calling on President Obama, Attorney General Holder, congressional Leaders, and Immigration, Department of State and Homeland Security Officials to put an end to what has become a bureaucratic nightmare for earthquake survivors in the greatest need.
“What could have been a mistake quickly corrected has turned into a nightmare for survivors of one of the most destructive disasters of our time. An unknown number of earthquake survivors are still in jail, more than two months after the earthquake because U.S. Immigration officials haven’t figured out how to get them visas? That is completely unacceptable and should shock the conscience of every American,” said Ben Smilowitz, Executive Director of the Disaster Accountability Project. “Those responsible for this should be asked to submit their resignations and those wrongly imprisoned should be compensated appropriately. Who will step up and do the right thing?”
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The Disaster Accountability Project (DAP) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the improvement of disaster management systems through public accountability, citizen oversight and empowerment, whistle-blower engagement, and policy research and advocacy. The Disaster Accountability Project’s website is https://disasteraccountability.org. After the Haiti Earthquake, http://www.reliefoversight.org was launched as a new initiative of the Disaster Accountability Project to improve transparency in relief efforts worldwide.
The Disaster Accountability Project was founded after Hurricane Katrina to improve FEMA, American Red Cross, and the other government agencies and nonprofit organizations responsible for disaster preparedness, response, relief, and recovery. In two years, the Disaster Accountability Project has become the leading, independent nonprofit providing citizen oversight to the U.S. disaster management system. In August 2008, the Disaster Accountability Project received the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship, awarded to social entrepreneurs tackling critical, high-impact social issues.
A toll-free hotline (866-9-TIP-DAP) is available as a public service for disaster survivors, workers and volunteers to report critical gaps in disaster prevention, response, relief, and recovery services or planning. The group is recruiting a national network of Disaster Accountability Monitors and Bloggers to help report, verify, and publicize gaps in disaster services or planning.
Disaster Accountability Project is a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship Organization.
For more information: http://www.echoinggreen.org/fellows/ben-smilowitz
Idealist.org Interview from August 2008: http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/h/blog/-questions-with-ben-smilowitz-of-disaster-accountability-project
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