Clinton Administration Prepares to Transfer Haitian Refugees to Safe Haven in Panama

The Clinton administration is nearly ready to transfer the first 500 Haitian refugees from Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba to a safe haven in Panama, with the transfer potentially taking place as early as Friday. The administration has agreed with Panama to accept 10,000 Haitian refugees as part of the "safe haven" policy worked out by the U.N. High Commission on Refugees and the Clinton administration. Commissioner Doris Meissner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) emphasized that the refugees will not be allowed to come and go freely, but will have their basic needs provided for while they wait for the political situation in Haiti to improve.

Key Takeaways:

• The Clinton administration is preparing to transfer 500 Haitian refugees from Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba to a safe haven in Panama as early as Friday.
• Panama has agreed to accept 10,000 Haitian refugees as part of the "safe haven" policy worked out by the U.N. High Commission on Refugees and the Clinton administration.
• Commissioner Doris Meissner of the INS stated that the refugees will not be allowed to come and go freely, but will have their basic needs provided for while they stay in camps in Panama.
• The INS plans to increase its personnel in Haiti to deal with the backlog of requests for asylum in the United States, with 6 adjudicators currently in place and 12 expected by the beginning of next week.
• Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick announced that the INS will have doubled its staff in Haiti by the beginning of next week.
• There is a backlog of 1,300 Haitians awaiting decision on their requests for political asylum in the United States.

Statistics:

• 500 Haitian refugees to be transferred from Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba to a safe haven in Panama.
• 10,000 Haitians currently being housed at Guantanamo Bay naval base.
• 1,300 Haitians awaiting decision on their requests for political asylum in the United States.
• 6 INS adjudicators currently in place in Haiti.
• 12 INS adjudicators expected in Haiti by the beginning of next week.
• 10,000 Haitians to be housed in Panama as part of the "safe haven" policy.

Sources:

• "Clinton Administration Prepares to Transfer Haitian Refugees to Safe Haven in Panama," by unreported (exact date not provided).
• Communication from Commissioner Doris Meissner, Immigration and Naturalization Service (July 7, 1994).
• Information from Pentagon spokeswoman Army Lt. Col. Stephanie Hoehny, (July 7, 1994).
• Speech by Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick, (exact date not provided).