Lawyers representing Haitian refugees scattered across America united last Thursday to protest the Department of Homeland Security's continued efforts to deport illegal immigrants to that troubled country. (The poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by political instability, corruption, violence and human-rights violations.) They launched their campaign in Philadelphia, Miami, Boston and New York City by filing motions asking immigration judges to grant temporary protected status (TPS) to thousands of undocumented Haitians. That would temporarily prevent the deportation of immigrants who consider it the equivalent of a death sentence.

There are an estimated 5,000 Haitian immigrants in the region, primarily in West Philadelphia, West Oak Lane, Germantown, Olney and Delaware County. Among the roughly two dozen who attended the press conference at the Nationalities Service Center was Picard Losier, an attorney who emigrated more than three decades ago. As owners of Radio Haiti of Philadelphia, he and his wife, Sharon, work as community and political organizers in the Haitian community. We sat down with Losier to get his perspective on the situation of Haiti and the campaign.

City Paper: How is the Department of Homeland Security failing these Haitian refugees?

Picard Losier: By not granting TPS status to them, it's saying they don't matter. It's a very unsympathetic view to these people. These people are human beings; they deserve to be treated like one. To me, it's obvious that the conditions for TPS eligibility have been met. It's an issue of fairness and these people are not being treated fairly.

CP: How would this deportation measure affect you directly?

PL: I personally know and am friends with several Haitian refugees in the Philadelphia region. Many of them have temporary and student visas. And these people are scared with the possibility of having to go back to Haiti. Things there are more chaotic than you can imagine, from the political corruption and the poverty to the violence unleashed on innocent people. I want my friends to live their lives as they see fit, not under an oppressive, corrupt state. I knew journalists and elected officials in Haiti who were in hiding. They were scared for their lives in Haiti and under constant persecution.

CP: What do you hope these nationwide campaigns accomplish?

PL: Obviously, I hope the immigration judges will halt all deportations to Haiti temporarily. But I also hope this campaign illustrates the brutality and political and social chaos that is occurring there. There are not many Americans who fully understand how terrible things are in Haiti. This issue is very real to me; Haiti is a failed state. You cannot speak of democracy, of basic rights and fairness, in Haiti; if you do, it will get you killed. People have a right to choose their own government. These are basic, fundamental rights that people in Haiti do not have. I want everyone to be aware of the human tragedy and suffering there. Our country needs to be aware of the scope of tragedy there and do something about it.