U.S. Policy toward Haitian Boat People, 1972-93

Bibliographic Data

ID9769744
AuthorsChristopher Mitchell (0000-0001-6523-0382, corresponding author)
Year1994
Volume534
Issue1
Pages69-80
Publication date1994-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7162 • E-ISSN: 1552-3349
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0002716294534001006
OpenAlexW2169488027
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited1

In the early 1970s, Haitians began migrating by sea to south Florida without authorization. Influential economic and social elites in that region pressed for federal action to deter this population stream. Until 1981, arriving Haitian boat people were detained in Florida, and most were deported as rapidly as possible. Since 1981, the U.S. government has used the Coast Guard to intercept boats laden with Haitian migrants. Since May 1992, “interdicted” Haitian vessels have been escorted back to Haiti, without affording passengers an opportunity to request political asylum in the United States. Although this policy has aroused condemnation from many observers as inhumane and discriminatory, the U.S. government arguably has the administrative, legal, and political ability to uphold it. Political criticism of the interception policy has helped induce the U.S. government to act in favor of a democratic regime in Haiti. Such a political trend would undercut the argument that Haitian boat people are fleeing political persecution and would bolster the policy of repatriation. As both U.S. political leaders and the general public become more restrictionist, the policy of returning Haitian boat people may, unfortunately, come to seem normal rather than anomalous

Democracy · Government (linguistics · Persecution · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Population · Sociology · Law · Maritime Security and History · Public Administration

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