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Migrations: Routes, Dreams and Reality
Luck or Death in Haitian
Exodus to the United States
Exodus to the United States
Many Haitian emigrants yearn to arrive to US territory to get better opportunities in life. However many of them have died during the crossing and many others have been sent back to their homeland.
In the 90s, thousands of Haitians turned USA into a favourite destination, putting their hopes on that northern country. They were tagged as “Boat people”. Nowadays, they still try to reach US coasts. (Photo haunpic.org /Seinforma)
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SPECIAL SERIES
MIGRATIONS
Migrations: Routes, Dreams and Reality
HAITI (III)
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Historical Frame of the Haitian Migrations
NO to US Military Bases in Colombia
12/13/09
By Carmen María Arguello*/Seinforma Special Series
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- An evaluation of the processes of Haitian migration to the United States is essential in order to understand why and how they occur, starting from a chronological frame of these migrations.
The migration on a large scale from Haiti to the US began in the 50s; most of these people were immigrants of the middle and upper class, literate people and professionals that left their native country in order get a better life. These immigrants are settled in cities such as New York, Chicago and Boston.
Ten years later, thousands of Haitians of the middle and lower class joined to the exodus. They emigrated in big masses to the United States
and Canada and continued in the 70s and 80s.
The third and more tragic period of Haitian migration to the US, which marks a new phase in the Haitian migration, began in 1972 when a group of small boats loaded with illegal Haitian emigrants arrived to the south coast of Florida.
In the 90s, thousands of Haitians turned to US into a joint destination, putting their hopes on that northern country, for better opportunities for development, better life conditions and security and integrity.
By Carmen María Arguello*/Seinforma Special Series
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- An evaluation of the processes of Haitian migration to the United States is essential in order to understand why and how they occur, starting from a chronological frame of these migrations.
The migration on a large scale from Haiti to the US began in the 50s; most of these people were immigrants of the middle and upper class, literate people and professionals that left their native country in order get a better life. These immigrants are settled in cities such as New York, Chicago and Boston.
Ten years later, thousands of Haitians of the middle and lower class joined to the exodus. They emigrated in big masses to the United States
and Canada and continued in the 70s and 80s.
The third and more tragic period of Haitian migration to the US, which marks a new phase in the Haitian migration, began in 1972 when a group of small boats loaded with illegal Haitian emigrants arrived to the south coast of Florida.
In the 90s, thousands of Haitians turned to US into a joint destination, putting their hopes on that northern country, for better opportunities for development, better life conditions and security and integrity.
Boat People: Leaving Port-au-Prince behind
In general “Boat People” is a term that usually refers to illegal immigrants or people looking for political asylum that arrive in masses usually in homemade boats.
In the case of the Haitian “Boat People”, it referrers to lower class people of Haitian society that due the chaotic situation in which Haiti is, and not being able to afford a visa and plane tickets, they sell their properties and get a place in a boat to move along the 700 miles up to Florida.
Usually many of them stayed close near the entrance places of United States, and throughout the years these concentrations of Haitians emigrants have increased.
While the situation of extreme poverty and repression got worse under the government of Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed Bébé Doc, the Haitian exodus increased. Between 1970 and 1980 between 50,000 and 80,000 of Haitians entered illegally by boat to Florida and an unknown number died through the crossing on high seas (1).
In general “Boat People” is a term that usually refers to illegal immigrants or people looking for political asylum that arrive in masses usually in homemade boats.
In the case of the Haitian “Boat People”, it referrers to lower class people of Haitian society that due the chaotic situation in which Haiti is, and not being able to afford a visa and plane tickets, they sell their properties and get a place in a boat to move along the 700 miles up to Florida.
Usually many of them stayed close near the entrance places of United States, and throughout the years these concentrations of Haitians emigrants have increased.
While the situation of extreme poverty and repression got worse under the government of Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed Bébé Doc, the Haitian exodus increased. Between 1970 and 1980 between 50,000 and 80,000 of Haitians entered illegally by boat to Florida and an unknown number died through the crossing on high seas (1).
Haitian Boat People make a dangerous 700 mile journey to Florida. Once they reach US territory they usually stay close to the entry points; therefore throughout the years these concentrations of Haitians emigrants increased in number and size and concentrated in cities such as New York, Chicago and Boston; and Montreal, Halifax and Windsor in Canada. (Illustration Waleska Medina / Seinforma Special Series)
In 1981 only around 1000 Haitians arrived every month, aimed to Bahamas, and many of them arrived to Florida mistakenly. After electing Jean Bertrand Aristide to become president in 1991, with an overwhelming margin in relation to his rivals, the massive migration ceased temporarily, due to the high expectations people had for a change in poverty and repression upon the arrival of Aristide to power, but the stream of emigrants started again at the end of 1991 after the coup d’état.
After that event, during the military government of 1991 to 1994, thousands of people left Haiti. Many of them got the refugee condition and others were relocated in different US cities.
NOTES:
(1) <http://www.haiti-usa.org/modern/evolution.php>
*Carmen Arguello studied International Relations at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. She is the Academic Director of the Dominican-Russian Cultural Institute and Consular Assistant in the Honorary General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Dominican Republic.
After that event, during the military government of 1991 to 1994, thousands of people left Haiti. Many of them got the refugee condition and others were relocated in different US cities.
NOTES:
(1) <http://www.haiti-usa.org/modern/evolution.php>
*Carmen Arguello studied International Relations at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. She is the Academic Director of the Dominican-Russian Cultural Institute and Consular Assistant in the Honorary General Consulate of the Russian Federation in Dominican Republic.
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