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Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 841
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 3:32 pm: | 
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Feds order deportation to destroyed isle
By Boston Herald staff
Ten years after nearly 300 refugees arrived in the United States, fleeing a volcano that destroyed homes and poisoned the air on the West Indies island of Montserrat, federal authorities are telling them it's time to go home.
``That doesn't make any sense to me,'' said Montserrat native John Lee of Mattapan, whose sister, Bernice, must return to the devastated island at the end of the month or face deportation.
``She's 67. There's no one to go back to,'' said Lee, a U.S. citizen since 1965. ``We still have property there, but our entire village is uninhabitable. I don't know what she'll do if she goes back.''
The Department of Homeland Security announced in July that temporary protected status granted to 292 refugees in the late 1990s was no longer appropriate, even though conditions on Montserrat are described by the State Department as still unsafe for resettlement.
Montserrat's volcano erupted in 1995, forcing approximately 8,000 of the island's 9,200 residents to flee and destroying two-thirds of the island. Between 40 and 60 refugees settled in Boston, renewing their temporary status annually, while the island's situation grew worse. The volcano may continue to spew ash for decades.
Facing the Feb. 27 deadline, refugees, their families, politicians and community groups are petitioning the Bush administration to reconsider. Pending legislation in Congress would offer permanent residency to the Montserratians.
``I was there two years ago, and it was still very bad,'' said Janis Galloway, a Montserrat native working with the Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries to fight the decision. ``There is nothing there. The shops are covered with ash. The port is inaccessible.''
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notehead
Supporter
Username: Notehead
Post Number: 2033
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 4:46 pm: |
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Face, et al, please note the alternative to the administration's plan, sponsored by Democratic Senator Charles E. Schumer: Pending legislation in Congress would offer permanent residency to the Montserratians.
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themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 1457
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 4:49 pm: |
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I hear he is going to throw them INTO the volcano one at a time while wearing a King Kong costume. |
Debby
Citizen
Username: Debby
Post Number: 1652
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 10, 2005 - 8:07 pm: |
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Sounds uniquely American. |
marion cobretti
Citizen
Username: Marion_cobretti
Post Number: 53
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 3:16 am: |
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what sounds uniquely american? providing safe homage to people whose homes were destroyed by a natural disaster? i don't agree with sending them back if there is nothing to go back to,but don't jump on the anti US bandwagon b/c there is talk that they might. where would they have gone beside here for the last 10 years? |
ashear
Supporter
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1682
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 8:36 am: |
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I agree, its not uniquely American, its uniquely Bushian. |
Dr. Winston O'Boogie
Citizen
Username: Casey
Post Number: 1062
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 9:12 am: |
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and of course it's being done under the guise of Homeland Security. Cloak everything in the veil of keeping us safe. As if Monserrat has been a hotbed of international terrorism. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 410
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 9:25 am: |
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its not uniquely American, its uniquely Bushian.
CORRECT!
I betcha if that Volcano sprewed out oil…Bush would send out the welcome mat. |
Mark Fuhrman
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 1279
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 9:35 am: |
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The only thing Montserrat was was a hotbed of volcanic ash and lava. |
Sgt. Pepper
Citizen
Username: Jjkatz
Post Number: 662
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 11, 2005 - 10:14 am: |
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Isn't a volcano a weapon of mass destruction? Those Montserratians aren't fooling me! I say invade!!!
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marion cobretti
Citizen
Username: Marion_cobretti
Post Number: 54
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2005 - 9:17 pm: |
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well how many had volcano insurance? |
marion cobretti
Citizen
Username: Marion_cobretti
Post Number: 61
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 4:53 am: |
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better yet, let's invite every person from every country, that's ever had anything bad happen to them, give em 10 f'n years to establish some sort of common ground and then kick them out! i'm sure that was our plan the whole time. just wait for these people to think they were safe and then BLAM, send them back. i know Montserrat is big on our list of islands that don't exist on a map to conquer. |
Robert Livingston
Citizen
Username: Rob_livingston
Post Number: 857
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 - 10:10 am: |
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Here's an idea, Marion Cobretti: the U.S. hires a one-man assault force whose laser-mount submachine gun and pearl handled Colt .45 spit pure crimestopping venom to kill all the Montserratians. Problem solved. After all, crime is the disease. What's the cure again, Marion? |
marion cobretti
Citizen
Username: Marion_cobretti
Post Number: 70
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 18, 2005 - 3:48 am: |
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that sounds worse then a half way decent stallone movie! I'M THE CURE |
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