Haitians Apprehended After Crossing into Vermont Illegally

Much focus in recent weeks has been placed on the security of the Southwest border, but the Northern border with Canada also faces illegal crossings. Since the January earthquake in Haiti, 114 Haitians have been apprehended trying to illegally enter the United States through Vermont.

Another Haitian was apprehended trying to cross into New York.

The United States offered temporary protective status to illegal aliens from Haiti after the earthquake, but the TPS only applies to those already present in the United States. The Obama Administration placed an 18-month hold on deportations of Haitians.

But according to the U.S. attorney working the cases, Tristram Coffin, that policy won’t apply to Haitians caught entering the United States illegally after the earthquake. He said they will receive no special treatment.

“In a situation where we have so many people crossing the border and entering the United States illegally to live here illegally, we need to take a relatively strong deterrent stance on that conduct,” Coffin told the Burlington Free Press.

For more information, see the Burlington Free Press.