During this past presidential campaign, we have witnessed a president-elect tell lies about Haitian immigrants that cater to the worst types of stereotypes of persons of color and seek to inflame our country’s worst xenophobic instincts. That Trump targets Haitians should come as no surprise: they speak a different language then us, they are black, and they have little political power. This is the worst type of bullying and overt discrimination, and it has triggered threats of violence.

Haiti’s government is a kleptocracy, its economy is non-functional and dominated by cronyism, and the country is wracked by uncontrolled violence. It has suffered natural disasters that it has had no capacity to address. The Haitians who come to this country come from a failed state, and have a greater claim for economic, political, and humanitarian refugee status than any other country in the Western hemisphere and almost any other country in the world.

This moral and humanitarian imperative has been fully recognized, notwithstanding all of the hyperbole surrounding immigration. The vast majority of the Haitians in Springfield Ohio have been granted humanitarian parole and are legally protected under either the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan parole program or have been provided temporary protected status. Haitians have been treated comparably to immigrants from Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine and other areas wracked by war and anarchy.

In addition to Trump, we also have a vice president-elect, a smooth and skilled ivy league debater who falsely characterizes the members of the Haitian community as illegal immigrants.

There are approximately 20,000 Haitians living in Connecticut. As a percentage of its total population, Connecticut has one of the largest populations of Haitians in the country. As anyone who has lived with, worked with, or represented members of Connecticut’s Haitian community can attest, it is strong and vibrant. They work hard. Many Haitian immigrants are highly intelligent and well-educated.

They come to America and accept menial jobs to support their families both here and those who remain in Haiti, because there is no other option in their homeland. They try to give their children a better life. The Churches serving the Haitian community are among the largest in the state, and serve as centers of cultural life. Many Haitian residents of Stamford embrace very traditional values.

Are there members of the Haitian community who commit crimes, engage in anti-social behavior, and abuse drugs? Of course there are. They are no different than any of us or any of the immigrant groups who have preceded them in this country.

Haitian immigrants who try to get ahead in America face language and cultural barriers, and, of course, racism. But their community has
celebrated the same success stories of the other immigrant communities that have preceded them. Their hard work and sacrifice enabled their children to go to elite universities and attain otherwise unimaginable opportunities. Their children’s success is no different than the success stories of every immigrant group that has come before them and a testament to the ongoing viability of the American dream.

Unfortunately, having candidates vilifying immigrant groups for political gain is not new. Connecticut residents, like the residents and government institutions in Springfield Ohio, need to stand up for these members of our community. If we stand silently, it is important to remember: They are no different than any of us.