The League of Iowa Human & Civil Rights Agencies

MIAMI — Marie Violande Guerrier-Cavalier arrived in Florida from Haiti on Jan. 16, with little more than her feverish infant son, Marcley, his tiny legs in casts because of a birth defect. She left her husband and four other children behind, living in the yard outside their broken house. Because Marcley is a United States citizen, born here, his mother was allowed to evacuate with him after the earthquake, and can stay in the United States for six months. But Ms. Guerrier-Cavalier has few possessions, no money and no way of legally earning any. She can neither support herself and Marcley, nor send money back home at a time when Haitians are desperate for help from outside. And it is unclear where she will go when the six months are up.

[more]