Haitian-American leaders say return of Haitians to quake-ravaged nation was ‘inhumane’

Leaders: Return of Haitians to homeland ‘inhumane’

MIAMI — Haitian leaders in Miami say it was “inhumane” to return nearly 80 Haitians to their earthquake-ravaged homeland.

Members of the Haitian-American Grassroots Coalition called on the Obama administration Friday to work with other countries that might be willing to accept Haitians trying to leave by boat.

Seventy-eight Haitians were stopped last weekend west of the Bahamas and returned to Haiti by the U.S. Coast Guard. The U.S. says it worked with Haitian officials to find a place to take them back to that was not directly affected by the Jan. 12 earthquake.

U.S. officials say there are no signs of increased migration of Haitians by sea, but coalition leaders say growing frustration among quake survivors may drive some to flee in the coming weeks.