The Diversity Visa system created under the Immigration Act of 1990 was a bonanza for people from Ireland; 40% of these special visas went to them. But for asylum seekers from Haiti, there was no red carpet.
While nearly all Haitians throughout the 1980s and 1990s were denied asylum, people from other countries were welcomed, including white Cubans. In 1993, a refugee boat of seven Cubans and 10 Haitians traveled as one to Florida. Upon arrival, the Cubans were offered shelter, but the Haitians were sent to detention facilities. And this discrimination against Haitians would only get worse.
Under the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations, thousands of Haitian refugees were sent to the naval base-turned detention-center at Guantanamo Bay, where they were denied their basic human rights. This practice continues today.
Since when is it a crime to ask for help? Black people are regularly portrayed as among the “worst criminals,” but the entire reason Haitian refugees wanted asylum was to live in safety. This crisis showed that across our diaspora, it’s crucial to rely on each other rather than systems that vilify us.