Clinton Urges Temporary Asylum in U.S. for the Haitian Boat People
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Gov. Bill Clinton, drawing a sharp distinction between President Bush’s policies and those he would follow as President, said America should allow Haitian refugees to stay pending resolution of their asylum appeals.
“We should continue to press for restoration of the elected government of Haiti, and until then I think the refugees should be given temporary asylum,” Clinton told reporters here after voting in Tuesday’s Arkansas primary.
“He (Bush) wants to send them back, even if some of them die on the way,” Clinton said.
While Bush has said that the Haitian boat people are economic refugees, not political, Clinton disagrees.
“Insofar as they’re economic refugees, it’s in large measure because of the embargo that we’re supporting,” he said. “I think we should be supporting the embargo, but I think in the interim, while they are waiting for the restoration of the government, they should be given temporary asylum here.”
Clinton did not say what he would do to ensure the return of the elected government, beyond saying that “we should continue to press” for it.
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