Haitian trying to get to USA goes to jail

The doors of America (the USA) has been wide open to accept from the January 12 earthquake that devasted Haiti and TPS has been granted to many who were in the US before the quake.  But not everyone gets a free pass.  Wisly Bejean, a Haitian living in Canada, was walking on an isolated farming road just south of the Canadian border when his journey into the United States abruptly ended.

Mr Bejean is charged with trying to enter the United States illegally and he is going to jail.


The GLOBE and MAIL reports that more than 120 Haitians, some of them women and children, have been caught trying to cross into Vermont from Quebec. Eight were apprehended this weekend alone.

Mark Henry, operations officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the Swanton sector, which covers the main illegal entry points believes that "some were being smuggled into the U.S. through organized rings.”  It seems like the surge also coincides with a decision after the earthquake by the Obama administration to grant temporary protected status to Haitians living in the country illegally.

Mr. Bejean was living in Florida and lost a bid to remain in the United States; in October, 2007, facing deportation, he entered Canada at Fort Erie, Ont., and applied for asylum.  He was caught at 3:15 a.m. two weeks ago in the border village of North Troy, Vt., trying to get back to the US.

The U.S. Attorney’s office is criminally prosecuting more than 35 Haitians, including Mr. Bejean, who face up to two years in jail if found guilty of re-entering the country while facing an outstanding deportation order.

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