Watching from his beleaguered Caribbean island, 71-year-old Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry blamed the Texas immigration crisis on “inequalities and conflict,” something he wanted the U.N. to address in short order. Images of some 15,000 Haitian refugees packed in like sardines under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas horrified the nation and the world, especially watching border patrol on horseback round up Haitian refugees like runaway cattle. President Joe Biden, 78, said the Border Patrol performing such inhumane treatment would “pay,” without specifying exactly how that would happen Immigration problems on the southern U.S. border have plagued the region for decades but became a convenient Democrat talking point during the 2020 presidential election. Former President Donald Trump was blamed by the press for intolerable conditions on the Mexcian border.
Biden’s border problems are far worse that Trump yet Biden gets a pass because he’s from the right political party. “We do not wish to challenge the right of a sovereign state to control the entry borders into its territory, or to send back to the country of origin those who enter the country illegally,” said Prime Minister Ariel Henry in his video speech to the U.N. General Assembly. “Human beings, fathers and mothers who have children, are always going to flee poverty and conflict,” Henry said, urging the U.N. or more affluent countries to help places like Haiti. Haiti is considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, sharing a border with the more prosperous Dominican Republic, a feeder country for Major League Baseball [MLB]. Henry, who became prime minister July 20 after the July 7 assassination of Prime Minister Jovenal Moise, inherited a mess from the impoverished island nation.
U.S. immigration is both a curse and blessing, considering the fact that white U.S. population has been dwindling for decades. Without immigration, the U.S., like other Western democracies especially in Europe, states watch a progressive decline in population. Immigration allows the U.S. to maintain its potentially shrinking U.S. population. Henry’s right when he says that poverty and conflict drive immigrants to the promised land, especially in the United States. Despite all the U.S. problems, it has a thriving economy, regardless of the Covid-19 pandemic, capable of sustaining its 330 million population. Adding another 15,000 Haitian immigrants shouldn’t take jobs away from American workers, knowing that Haitians would most likely fill the employment gap in unskilled labor, something badly needed in a wide swath of industries in the United States.
U.S. immigration policy has been stalled for years with both sides of the aisle agreeing that illegal immigration actually helps the U.S. economy. U.S. corporate productivity, whatever the industry, is dependent on a cheap, unskilled labor, often taking jobs most Americans workers wouldn’t take. Henry told the truth about how hunger, poverty and unsafe living conditions drive immigration but there’s no quick fix to the failed states in Latin America or the Caribbean. Immigrant from failed states flock to the United State precisely because it has a capitalist economy that provides sufficient employment for the population, including legal and illegal immigrants. Republicans fight against Democrats’ new-and-old socialism because they know the consequences to the U.S. economy in terms of eliminating jobs. Failed states in Latin America and elsewhere cannot support their populations.
Haiti’s misfortunes have been compounded by Moise’s July 7 assassination and a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake a month later, killing 2,000, injuring 12,000, destroying 53,000 homes. Haiti’s best hope for the future is rebuilding from the ground up with international assistance, encouraging companies to set up shop in Haiti for manufacturing. While it’s easier said than done, throwing money at failed states, rarely results in improved economies. As long as corruption is rampant, there’s little more prosperous states can do to reverse failed economies. Vice President Kamala Harris wants more U.S. foreign aid to Latin America, something that’s been tried before and failed. Before Haiti receives one dime of U.S. foreign aid, the State Department must be convinced that Haiti’s government can guarantee that the cash won’t get into the wrong hands.
Biden bowed to his left wing caucus stopping deportations and allowing at least 12,500 Haitian refugees to enter the United States. Whether Haiti can keep itself from civil war or a coup d’etat is anyone’s guess. Reports of an assassination attempt of Henry makes the situation all the more unstable. Henry fired an old Moise prosecutor who asked a Haitian judge to file murder charges against Haiti’s new leader. So, if the government survives any more insurgencies, Henry has a chance to convene a donors’ conference with U.S. help to begin rebuilding the dilapidated nation. Henry’s right when he blames extreme poverty and conflict on Haiti’s immigration problem. But more than anything else, Haiiti needs leaders that respect the rule of law, human and civil rights and do whatever it takes to bring industry to create jobs on the island. All the talk about foreign aid can only go so far.
