BY ELLEN BRICKLEY
MIAMI - Five hundred people demonstrated here March 6 against the new immigration law, which will go into effect on April 1. The protest was organized by the Haitian rights group Veye-yo, the Haitian Refugee Center, and a local educational advocacy group called the Haitian Connection.

Signs read "Amnesty for all immigrants!", "This country was built by the blood and sweat of immigrants", and "Who were the first people to come on a ship?" Some carried signs saying "Amnesty: yes, workfare: yes!"

The new immigration laws will make it difficult for immigrants who did not come legally to this country to become legal residents - no matter how long they may have lived here. The laws would also deny the right for immigrants to appeal deportations. The laws contain changes that will affect thousands of disabled children and senior citizens, who will lose their Supplemental Security Income.

Referring to the U.S. government, Veye-yo leader Florvil Samedi, told the crowd that the same government that forced Haitians out of their country is now passing new laws against Haitian refugees here. Fritz Luctan, a participant in the demonstration said "America is now my home - down with deportation. I'm not a criminal."

Rollande Girard of the Socialist Workers Party told the crowd that "Workfare is not the solution, what we need is to shorten the workweek without cut in pay so that jobs would be created. We need to raise minimum wage to union scale."

On February 14, more than 1,000 people, including many Nicaraguans, filled the street in front of the same INS building to protest deportations and the new immigration laws. Another rally against the laws, is planned for April 1.  
 
 
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