Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - The Peruvian Episcopal Conference has sent a note to Fides about the situation of Haitians who have been stopped on the border for several months, and would like to enter Brazil. The note explains the situation chronologically, and the help offered by the Church, remembering the following.
In March 2011 there was the presence of more than 100 Haitian nationals who were stranded in the Peruvian city of Iñapari, Mother of God, in an attempt to enter Brazil. The members of the Pastoral Care of Human Mobility and the Peruvian Catholic Commission for Migration of the Episcopal Conference of Peru tried to submit applications for asylum to a group of Haitians, who later managed to enter Brazil.
In January, this year, Father Rene Salizar, pastor in Iñapari, reported the presence of 273 Haitians in the area. This time Brazil closed its borders, preventing the entry of Haitians and since then the priest is taking care of all these people, even with the support of some human rights institutions in Brazil.
Concerned by this situation, Mrs. Beatriz Roman of the Peruvian Catholic Commission for Migration and Fr. Marcos Mario Bubniak, CS, Coordinator of the Pastoral Care of Human Mobility, met with the President of the Ethics Committee of Congress, Congressman Humberto Lay, in order to present a proposal to give legal status to migrant through a humanitarian visa for foreigners who reside illegally, who are at risk of expulsion or deportation. The member of Congress showed its interest in the situation and decided to work to do what is possible, by studying a proposal to be submitted to the Commission in office for review. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/2/2012)
