DANIA BEACH, Fla. – After a number of Haitian deportations, a group of about 40 people gathered outside the Dania Beach Border Patrol station Saturday, calling for an end to deportations and equal treatment for the people of Haiti.
The group said as of late, thousands of Haitians have been deported after arriving to U.S. shores.
A recent example we have seen was on Thursday when nearly 200 migrants were sent back to Haiti after being spotted off Key Largo.
The group of people that gathered Saturday was led by the advocacy group Family Action Network Movement. They were also joined by elected officials, community and faith-based leaders, as well as business owners.
They say they want to see Haitians get fair treatment and want to see due process be given.
They are also calling on President Joe Biden and his administration to step in and help Haitian refugees who are fleeing the nation of Haiti that right now is plagued with gang violence, political instability, kidnappings and massacres.
“To send a clear message to the Biden administration: Stop violating the basic rights of the Haitian refugees,” said Marleine Bastien, executive director of the Family Action Network Movement.
“If the Cubans come, they will give them access -- as a matter a fact, they will embrace them at sea, give them a shelter, give them some kind of government help and everything, but when our people come here, the only thing they have in mind is to return them back,” said Haitian-American Dr. Kedner Maxime.
And with a number of women and children fleeing Haiti, those at Saturday’s rally say it shows how dangerous the situation in Haiti is and that’s why they say they will continue to make their voices heard.