Dual citizenship offers second chance to Haitians
theGRIO VIDEO - Dual citizenship offers millions of Haitians living across the globe a hand in the future of Haiti...
Cycling has always been his passion — one that would take him from the streets of New York City to the hills of Haiti.
“When I saw Haiti initially, I was thinking to myself ‘wow this is a great place to ride. There are so many mountains,” said Edouard Hall, Jr.
Ed Hall Jr. was born in New York to Haitian parents and even as child he was absolutely obsessed with bikes. I know, because I’m his little sister and it was my own passion, for journalism, that brought me to Haiti time several times in the last eight years
But my brother grew into his Haitian culture a bit late. Before last year, he had never been to Haiti as adult. Now, at 39 years old, he feels more connected to his culture than ever and is excited about a recent change in Haitian law that allows him to become a dual citizen — both in the us and in Haiti – a country he got to know well after last year’s deadly earthquake.
“To think there are people living in those conditions. Even to this day there are still people living in tents that really moved me. I had to do something”
So he founded the Marie Georges foundation — a non-profit named for our mom who lost her battle with cancer in 2006. It was no surprise the first order of business was a program that gives bikes to Haitian students.
“Sometimes students have to wake up very early in the morning and walk for hours and if they had a bicycle they could do the trip in half the time. Sometimes people have to go long distances to carry or get their water. Having a bicycle will make that job a lot easier.
Ed just got back from a four-month stay in Haiti. He loved it so much he wanted to become a Haitian citizen and give up his American passport. So when the Haitian government recently changed their constitution lifting the ban on dual nationality. It offered the perfect compromise.
This immigration lawyer says some of his Haitian-born clients have, in the past, turned down American citizenship. “Many Haitian nationals are very patriotic and they just did not want to give up that Haitian nationality,” said Carrie Solages.
Dual citizenship offers millions of Haitians living across the globe a hand in the future of Haiti. After weeks of debate by members of Haitian parliament, we can now own land and run for lower-level elected office. But best of all, we are no longer visitors to Haiti.
“Its kind of like the difference between being a guest in someone’s house and being in your own house. You’re more comfortable there.”
