2026 Wallenberg Medal and Lecture

2026年瓦伦堡奖章及演讲 在接受2026年瓦伦堡奖章（Wallenberg Medal）时，Guerline Jozef将拉乌尔·瓦伦堡（Raoul Wallenberg）反抗与救援的遗产，与海地人、黑人及弱势移民在应对日趋敌对的美国移民体系中所面临的当代抗争联系起来。她揭示了法律保护遭到撤销以及无处不在的监控所造成的惨痛代价，并通过20岁学生运动员Pierre Damas Bel的悲剧遭遇展现了这种系统性的残酷。Jozef将当代的流离失所问题追溯至外国对海地的历史性剥削与局势破坏，呼吁立即对参议院S.4814号法案和《梦想法案与承诺法案》（Dream and Promise Act）提供立法支持。在与密歇根大学师生学者的深入问答中，她强调了遣返至活跃冲突地区的险恶现实，同时肯定了亲身体验不可或缺的权威性。 Haitian Bridge Alliance联合创始人Guerline M. Jozef在密歇根大学获颁2026年瓦伦堡奖章，以表彰其在捍卫海地人、黑人及弱势移民权益方面的前线倡导工作。 (4:18) 约50万名此前通过人道主义假释和临时保护身份（TPS）获得经审查合法身份的海地人，近期其法律保护被突然撤销，导致他们面临被捕和被驱逐出境的风险。 (27:18) 保护移民的立法努力在国会面临微弱的票数差距：众议院的《梦想法案与承诺法案》目前距离通过所需的218票仅差1票，而参议院S.4814号法案在所需的60票中目前仅获得43票。 (76:02) 尽管海外侨民及TPS持有者的汇款支撑着海地全国20%以上的国内生产总值（GDP），但在面临美国移民程序的遣返海地移民中，目前仅有18%能够获得法律代理。 (83:22)

Accepting the 2026 Wallenberg Medal, Haitian Bridge Alliance executive director Guerline Jozef argued that migration is a fundamental human right, asserting that U.S. enforcement policies, sudden administrative revocations of legal status, and xenophobic rhetoric inflict severe violence on Black and Brown migrants while ignoring historical American complicity in Haiti's destabilization. Historical Xenophobia and Modern Dehumanizing Rhetoric (14:19) Jozef argued that although the vast majority of Americans originate from immigrant backgrounds, public discourse continuously recycles xenophobic tropes against newcomers. She traced this pattern through historical exclusions—such as the anti-Irish 'need not apply' signs, Chinese exclusion, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and mass deportations of Mexican Americans—leading directly to contemporary vilification directed at Haitian immigrants. She sharply condemned modern political messaging, citing remarks by the Vice President claiming that immigrants 'dirty the blood of Americans' and fabricated accusations in Springfield, Ohio, alleging that Haitian residents were eating pets. According to Jozef, these attacks are not accidental; they operate as calculated rhetoric intended to strip migrants of their humanity, which in turn rationalizes systemic neglect, surveillance, and physical mistreatment by the state. Legal Precarity and Bureaucratic Enforcement (27:18) Dismantling the argument that migrants should simply 'come legally,' Jozef highlighted that roughly 500,000 vetted Haitians recently had their humanitarian parole and temporary protections abruptly rescinded despite clearing criminal background checks, submitting fingerprints, and paying government fees. This sudden bureaucratic shift leaves individuals terrified to leave their homes, threatens core American elder-care and medical infrastructure staffed by over 300,000 immigrant healthcare workers, and exposes migrants to detention when only 18% have access to legal representation. To demonstrate the lethal toll of these policies, Jozef cited Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old student-athlete with a 3.8 GPA whose soccer scholarship ended when ICE forced him into a burning GPS ankle monitor under threat of removal, culminating in his suicide. She also cited Pastor Molis Augustine, who was detained by ICE during a routine traffic stop for a broken taillight despite having an approved Form I-130 petition for permanent residency, illustrating how administrative mechanisms criminalize individuals navigating legal channels. U.S. Destabilization and Deportations to Conflict Zones (60:40) Jozef situated the migration crisis within a longer history of foreign intervention, stating that bipartisan U.S. policies deliberately destabilized Haiti's economic sovereignty. She noted that institutions like Citibank acquired wealth when U.S. military forces seized Haitian national bank reserves during the 20-year occupation, while later agricultural trade dumping destroyed domestic rice farming and livestock livelihoods. Today, Haiti faces 1.4 million internally displaced citizens on the brink of famine, while diaspora remittances—largely sent by TPS holders—sustain over 20% of its national GDP. She condemned the U.S. government for continuing deportations despite its own State Department Level 4 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Haiti. Because the Port-au-Prince airport remains closed as a military staging area, shackled deportees are deposited at Cap-Haïtien without shelters or reception facilities, leaving them vulnerable to gang violence fueled by false rumors that deportees return carrying thousands of dollars in cash. Legislative Demands and Grassroots Moral Action (35:40) Connecting her work to the humanitarian defiance of Raoul Wallenberg, Jozef outlined explicit legislative remedies currently facing congressional hurdles. She called for nationwide mobilization to secure at least 17 additional Senate votes to pass Senate Bill S.4814, which would establish a three-year protective shield for Haitian TPS holders and asylum seekers. In the House, she pointed out that the Dream and Promise Act sits at 217 votes, requiring just one more supporter to secure a 218-vote majority to establish a direct pathway to permanent residency. Jozef rejected feelings of civic powerlessness, asserting that individual voters hold immense leverage to hold representatives accountable. Recounting that the Haitian Bridge Alliance grew out of answering a single call to aid twelve stranded migrants at the southern border, she urged attendees to let ethical conviction guide daily civic engagement and local mutual aid rather than waiting for institutional directives. Jozef emphasized that long-term stability requires honoring Haitian self-determination rather than relying on external interventions, leaving open the practical challenge of securing bipartisan congressional majorities for migrant relief amidst intense political polarization and ongoing deportation operations.

[0:00] Raoul Wallenberg (quoted by Sioban D. Harlow): but I'm not sure I'm doing anything useful here [8:33] Guerline M. Jozef: How did you find me? How do you even know my name? [8:33] Guerline M. Jozef: Honor... Respect... Honor... Respect. [8:33] Guerline M. Jozef: you must be crazy to agree to be in that type, in that line, in that life where you sacrifice everything every day. [19:40] Guerline M. Jozef: How we welcome the least is literally touching the heart of God. [22:55] Guerline M. Jozef: Who do you go to bed with? Is it the community that you're a part of? The person who's suffering? The love, the care that needs to be given? [31:10] Pierre Damas Bel (quoted by Guerline M. Jozef): Dad, I don't think I can bear it anymore. I feel like I have lost my life. [31:10] Guerline M. Jozef: he was killed by the system [44:27] Guerline M. Jozef: She did not allow enslavement to be a barrier for her... She's nuts. Why would you come back? [52:52] Guerline M. Jozef: I didn't think I could make a difference. And I still don't feel that I make a difference, to be honest with you. [67:15] Guerline M. Jozef: They walked. And in my privilege, I was like, I don't even jog. I will take an Uber. How did you walk from Brazil? [67:15] Guerline M. Jozef: We did go for Haitians, but in true Haitian model, we stayed for everyone. [70:48] Guerline M. Jozef: the people closest to the cause or the people feeling it the most... are the ones who are the experts. [85:32] Guerline M. Jozef: We have proven that we can change the world. We did 1803, we did 1804. We gave the world a new flavor of what it means to be human.

[0:00] SIOBAN D. HARLOW: Welcome to the 31 Wallenberg Medal and lecture. [0:05] I am Siobhan Harlow, Chair of the Wallenberg Medal Executive [0:09] Committee and Professor Emerita of epidemiology [0:12] and global public health. [0:14] On behalf of the Committee and the Donia Human Rights Center, [0:18] I'm delighted to welcome you to this lecture that [0:21] honors the University of Michigan's most distinguished [0:25] alumnus, Raoul Wallenberg. [0:27] We will begin our program with the new film [0:31] about Wallenberg's life and legacy, directed by U-M [0:34] professors, Valadez and Hsu. [0:37] Following the film, we will present the Wallenberg Medal [0:41] to the 2026 honoree, Guerline Jozef. [0:45] Following her medal lecture, we will [0:47] have about 30 minutes for questions from the audience. [0:51] Please begin the film. [0:55] [APPLAUSE] [1:03] We are also honored to have in the audience tonight, [1:07] both virtually and here, professors Irene Butter [1:12] and Andrew Nagy, who were highlighted in the film. [1:15] [APPLAUSE] [1:22] As noted in the film, Raoul Wallenberg [1:24] was born to one of Sweden's most preeminent families. [1:28] Having been encouraged to study in America by his grandfather, [1:31] he enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1931. [1:35] But far from expectations of family, [1:38] a student of architecture and art at Michigan, [1:41] Raoul was simply Rudy. [1:44] He took full advantage of his time at the university, [1:48] although in a letter home, as they stated, he wrote, [1:53] but I'm not sure I'm doing anything useful here. [1:57] In time, he left an enormous legacy. [2:01] As Sweden remained a neutral nation during World War two, [2:05] Budapest was home to the last surviving Jewish population [2:09] in Europe, as Hungary had aligned with Germany. [2:13] However, in March 1944, the Nazis entered Budapest, [2:17] and restrictions of movement, ghettoization, and deportation [2:21] of the Jewish population began. [2:24] Leaving the safety of Sweden and a promising career, [2:28] on July 9, 1944, Raoul Wallenberg [2:31] stepped down from his train in Budapest as a Swedish diplomat. [2:35] And as illustrated in the film, during the six months from July [2:39] 1944 to January 1945, through his dedication, boldness, [2:45] and extraordinary organizational skills, [2:48] he is credited with saving over 100,000 lives. [2:53] Wallenberg steadfast defiance against brutality and injustice, [2:57] and his courage and defense of human dignity [3:00] remind us that no matter how formidable the odds, one [3:04] person can make a difference in our struggle for a more [3:08] just world. [3:10] Tonight, as we once again, remember Raoul Wallenberg, [3:14] we honor the human rights activist and thought leader, [3:18] Guerline Jozef who answered-- [3:21] [APPLAUSE] [3:30] --who answered one telephone call for help, [3:33] and henceforth, has worked tirelessly [3:35] to support the needs, rights and dignity of migrant women, men, [3:39] and children. [3:41] Using her extraordinary skills for strategic organization, [3:45] she's amplified the voices of the most marginalized, [3:48] and transformed the conversation on migration and race [3:52] and the injustice in the United States. [3:55] And I now welcome to the podium, Dr. Domenico Grasso, [4:00] President of the University of Michigan, [4:03] who will introduce Ms. Guerline Jozef [4:06] and present her with the Wallenberg Medal. [4:08] [APPLAUSE] [4:18] DOMENICO GRASSO: Thank you all for being here this afternoon. [4:22] This is always a special occasion for our university. [4:27] Thank you, Professor Harlow for your leadership [4:30] of the Wallenberg Medal Executive Committee. [4:34] We're grateful to you, your colleagues, and our donors [4:37] for the thoughtful work and the generous support [4:40] that make this program possible each year. [4:44] The University of Michigan has a rich legacy [4:48] of accomplished alumni, men and women, who have left this campus [4:52] and gone on to shape the world with their ideas, their actions, [4:57] and their leadership. [4:59] Raoul Wallenberg is unquestionably [5:02] the most distinguished of those graduates. [5:06] His humanity helped change the course of history [5:09] for thousands of Hungarian Jews, whose lives were [5:12] imperiled by the Nazi regime. [5:15] Born into a world of tremendous privilege, [5:19] he chose to put that privilege at risk [5:22] to save strangers who had been condemned to death. [5:27] His own untimely death remained shrouded in mystery, [5:31] but his courage, integrity, and selflessness [5:35] continue to illuminate what one person can [5:39] accomplish in the face of extraordinary injustice. [5:43] It is our honor as his Alma mater [5:46] and as a great university dedicated [5:48] to the public interest, to carry forward his extraordinary spirit [5:53] through the Wallenberg Medal. [5:57] It is fitting that Michigan's Donia Human Rights [6:01] Center administers this prestigious honor. [6:05] Through its teaching, scholarship, and public events, [6:08] the center serves as a vital place [6:11] for deepening our understanding of human rights [6:15] and the challenges facing the world today. [6:20] We are honored to present this year's Wallenberg [6:23] Medal to Guerline Jozef. [6:26] Guerline is the co-founder and executive director [6:30] of Haitian Bridge Alliance, which [6:33] supports Haitians, Black people, and other migrants [6:38] to the United States. [6:40] She has been a tireless advocate for fair and humane immigration [6:45] policies through organizing outreach, litigation, [6:49] and humanitarian relief. [6:53] Her commitment to human dignity is [6:55] evident in the essential support she [6:58] and Haitian Bridge Alliance provide to those they serve, [7:03] including food, legal aid, and language access. [7:08] She is unafraid to speak truth to power, [7:11] so those people without a voice can be heard. [7:15] Once again, we see the extraordinary difference one [7:19] person can make in the lives and the futures of so many others. [7:25] Guerline, it is our honor to present you [7:28] with a 2026 Wallenberg Medal. [7:31] Would you please join me? [7:33] [APPLAUSE] [8:33] GUERLINE JOZEF: She's getting me tissues. [8:43] She can't find it. [8:44] [LAUGHTER] [9:03] [SIGHS] Thank you so much. [9:06] Wow! [9:09] Hello. [9:13] Thank you, thank you. [9:19] U Michigan, how are you? [9:25] Thank you so much, president. [9:30] Thank you, my amazing new friend and sister, Professor Harlow. [9:37] Thank you to the committee. [9:40] I keep on asking, how did you find me? [9:44] [LAUGHTER] [9:47] How do you even know my name? [9:59] Sorry. [10:04] [SNIFFLES] Well. [10:16] [SNIFFLES] [10:19] [SIGHS] [10:26] Bear with me. [10:32] [BREATHES IN HEAVILY] [10:33] [SIGHS] [10:35] It is really an honor and a privilege to be in your presence [10:42] today. [10:45] It is a blessing. [10:48] And to begin, I will ask you to repeat after me. [10:55] Honor. [10:55] AUDIENCE: Honor. [10:57] GUERLINE JOZEF: Respect. [10:58] AUDIENCE: Respect. [10:59] GUERLINE JOZEF: Honor. [11:00] AUDIENCE: honor. [11:01] GUERLINE JOZEF: Respect. [11:02] AUDIENCE: Respect. [11:04] GUERLINE JOZEF: This is how we greet people. [11:07] As we honor and pay respect to those who have come before us, [11:14] to those who are here today, and those who are yet to come, [11:20] we understand many have paved the way for us [11:26] to be able to be here today. [11:29] And as I was watching this film-- thank you, Professor [11:35] John and Lynn, and for really highlighting [11:40] the beauty, the resilience, and the humanity of Raoul [11:47] Wallenberg. [11:49] And I don't feel worthy to receive this honor, because so [12:00] much more needs to be done. [12:05] So much needs to continue to do. [12:12] It is 2026. [12:17] It is 2026. [12:20] And the work that he did should not be necessary today. [12:27] [APPLAUSE] [12:37] The sacrifices that he made should not be a reality today. [12:46] And I have been tasked, I have been called, [12:50] I have went away from this work because I watched [12:56] my parents serve communities, and I thought, [13:00] you must be crazy to agree to be in that type, [13:09] in that line, in that life where you [13:13] sacrifice everything every day. [13:19] So when I was pushed [SNIFFLES] into law school, [13:23] I said no because I knew I would end up serving. [13:29] When I was pushed into medical school, I told my parents, no. [13:35] And my father was very upset. [13:37] [SNIFFLES] [13:39] As immigrants, you have to be an attorney. [13:41] You have to be a lawyer. [13:43] You have to be a doctor because we have to show our kids around. [13:47] That's what we do. [13:49] And I refused. [13:50] [SNIFFLES] I took a path that I thought [13:56] would take me away from where I am today. [14:00] [SNIFFLES] But jokes was on me because faith had it, [14:07] the universe had it, that even when I ran from the destiny, [14:13] it brought me back to it. [14:19] The work that we do at the Haitian Bridge Alliance [14:24] with a phenomenal group of people-- [14:28] small yet mighty-- impacted people [14:34] whose lives are currently in the balance, [14:38] yet every day, they woke up, they [14:42] put one foot in front of the other. [14:45] They take the streets. [14:46] They make sure they feed, they clothe, they care, [14:51] they represent for people who are currently [14:56] hiding under their beds, fearful that they could be taken, [15:04] kidnapped if they dared to leave their homes. [15:11] Migration, human rights, racial justice, equity, equality, [15:24] or the lack thereof. [15:29] When we hear the narrative-- specifically, [15:32] current narratives about immigrants, [15:38] I would like to ask a question. [15:43] How many of us here identify as a descendant [15:52] of formerly enslaved Africans in this country? [16:01] I see two, three, maybe four hands. [16:06] How many of us here identify as an Indigenous person [16:14] of this United States of ours-- a Native Indigenous [16:18] person of the United States? [16:25] I don't see any hands. [16:27] So therefore, almost every single one of us [16:32] here came from somewhere. [16:36] Yes or no? [16:37] AUDIENCE: Yes. [16:38] GUERLINE JOZEF: Could have been from the Mayflower. [16:42] Could have been from Ellis Island. [16:45] Could have been on a boat from Cuba or Haiti. [16:50] Could have been someone knocking at the border [16:54] right now where there is no lifeline for them. [16:58] Every single one of us have an immigrant origin. [17:06] We could be several generations removed, therefore, [17:11] we don't feel the weight of the system. [17:16] Maybe if we were Irish when they were just coming, [17:22] they were a sign. [17:24] Irish, not welcomed, before Irish became [17:31] White in the United States. [17:36] Or if you're Chinese. [17:39] Chinese, not welcome until we become the model immigrant, [17:49] if we are Japanese, we could be put in encampment and interned. [17:58] Or more recently, you're Mexican. [18:02] A million of them could be put into deportation, [18:05] denying their citizenship. [18:10] If you're Haitian today, you are absolutely, certainly 100% not [18:20] welcomed. [18:24] And I stand before you today, [SNIFFLES] [18:27] a Haitian American woman, fully American, fully Haitian, [18:34] and very proud to be that. [18:40] [APPLAUSE] [18:46] To be able to bridge the gap, to bring in the understanding [18:54] when narratives-- [18:56] created narratives purposely to criminalize, to deport, [19:07] and create an ordering belief, if I do not look like you, [19:17] we cannot be friends. [19:23] Understanding rice and beans, understanding salsa, [19:31] understanding those realities can bring us together. [19:34] Our diversity is our strength. [19:40] And as we talk about Wallenberg in the work he has done, [19:45] we also understand that several hundreds [19:52] of Jewish people fleeing Nazi Germany, fleeing Eastern Europe [19:59] came to the US only to be turned away. [20:02] And because of that, we created laws to welcome people, [20:08] so those extreme cruelties, as a result of sending them back [20:13] could never happen. [20:18] Migration is a human right. [20:22] Whether we believe in creation or we believe in evolution, [20:28] people have constantly, from the beginning of time, [20:33] migrate in search of safety, in search of protection, [20:39] in search of life itself. [20:45] How we welcome the least is literally [20:53] touching the heart of God. [21:00] [SNIFFLES] And today, we see creating the belief that [21:13] an immigrant is here [SNIFFLES] [SIGHS] [SNIFFLES] to dirty [21:32] the blood of Americans. [21:37] That is a statement that was shared by our vice [21:45] president two weeks ago. [21:54] When we hear in Springfield, Ohio, [21:59] that Haitians are eating at your pets. [22:04] That narrative lets you know that those people are not [22:09] the same as you, so therefore, they can be abused, [22:17] they can be brutalized, and we do not have to care. [22:26] I am hopeful because I see every day. [22:33] People like Nicole Good, Alex Petty [22:40] put their lives on the line against those false narratives [22:48] to say no. [22:55] We see the erosion of the very moral values of what [23:02] we hold as human beings. [23:08] [SNIFFLES] The lack of care, the lack of dignity. [23:15] The fact that we currently, in these United States of ours, [23:21] in 2016, experiencing ethnic cleansing. [23:28] I will repeat. [23:30] In 2026, as we are celebrating 250 years of these United States [23:39] of ours, once again, we are experiencing ethnic cleansing, [23:48] where if you are a Black and Brown person, [23:52] you will be racially profiled. [23:55] You will be stopped. [23:57] You will be taken by ICE. [23:59] You will be deported. [24:04] And at the same time, we need to ask, [24:08] is it really about immigration in the United States? [24:14] And understanding this is not a political issue. [24:19] Understanding that we are doing the work, [24:24] we are addressing, is a humanity issue, is a morality issue, [24:31] is a dignity issue. [24:34] It is not a political issue. [24:41] And when we understand that, we will [24:45] understand that we must come together to push forth, [24:53] to put in place certain measures that we [24:59] can look back and understand that we [25:02] have left the world a little bit better than how we found it. [25:09] [SNIFFLES] [25:12] Right now, we are fighting for the soul of America. [25:22] We are fighting for humanity, here at home [25:29] and around the world. [25:31] [SNIFFLES] So I invite each one of us, [25:37] when we look in our rearview mirror, who and what do you see? [25:46] You spend your day, you go back home, [25:51] you get your wine or a cup of tea, then you go to bed. [25:58] Who do you go to bed with? [26:06] Is it the community that you're a part of? [26:10] The person who's suffering? [26:14] The love, the care that needs to be given? [26:21] As we drive-through this road of life, [26:25] always remember to look in the mirror. [26:31] Your rearview mirror while you drive. [26:35] Your morning mirror. [26:37] And make sure what you see reflects the good [26:43] that you want to put out in the world. [26:47] [APPLAUSE] [26:55] It starts with you. [26:58] It starts with your family. [27:01] It starts in your neighborhood. [27:04] It starts in your school. [27:07] It starts within the community, then it infects and impacts [27:13] the world around us. [27:18] I want to share a couple of things [27:21] now, because as we talk about those issues [SNIFFLES] [27:28] and you bring in those realities, right now, [27:34] we have about half a million Haitians whose lives have [27:39] been completely destroyed in the past two months. [27:42] [SNIFFLES] People who had legal status in the United States. [27:51] And we hear, why don't they come the right way? [27:55] We love immigrants, but if they come here legally, [27:58] then we agree. [27:59] We don't want them to come here illegally. [28:01] We don't want them to be here illegally. [28:04] But these are people who did it the right way, who [28:08] followed every rule, who had their fingerprint, who [28:14] had their background, who paid their fees every single year. [28:21] And some of them used a program created by the government. [28:27] They applied, they qualified, they paid their tickets, [28:33] they came. [28:36] Unfortunately, that was taken from them overnight. [28:44] I remember on July 27, I was with two young women, [28:49] and they shared with me that they came from Haiti in 2023. [28:57] That was the first time in their young lives [29:02] that they slept without fear of being kidnapped the next day. [29:11] They slept without hearing gunshots firing outside. [29:18] They slept knowing that finally, they were safe. [29:25] On July 27, they shared with me, they went to bed and "we woke up [29:35] illegal" [SNIFFLES] internalizing the narrative [29:45] of the fact that the government has taken their legal status [29:52] make them illegal. [29:54] And they shared with me-- [29:57] [SNIFFLES] excuse me-- [30:04] [SNIFFLES] that morning, the same fear of being kidnapped [30:12] came back. [30:16] The same fear of being put in ICE detention came back. [30:23] The same fear of dying came back. [30:29] Because they shared with me, once their status was taken, [30:36] they realized that they couldn't step outside of their homes [30:41] for fear of being taken and deported by ICE. [30:48] So think about it. [30:50] You spend your entire life running. [30:54] You finally find safety, only for that safety [31:00] to be pulled from under you overnight [31:03] with no fault of yours. [31:10] We are heading to Springfield, Ohio from here. [31:18] We are going to bury a young man, Pierre Damas Bel. [31:28] Say his name. [31:31] Pierre. [31:32] AUDIENCE: Pierre. [31:33] GUERLINE JOZEF: Damas. [31:34] AUDIENCE: Damas. [31:34] GUERLINE JOZEF: Bell. [31:36] AUDIENCE: Bell. [31:37] GUERLINE JOZEF: A young man of only 20 years old [31:42] who did everything the government asked of him. [31:47] But upon losing his status, he received a letter [31:53] that called him to go to an ICE office, [32:00] along with hundreds of others. [32:04] When he got there, they told him he had two choices. [32:09] Either be deported to the same or that he fled, [32:17] or be put an ankle monitor as if he committed a crime. [32:28] So they fitted his ankle with that device. [32:34] He was in our city. [32:39] Bright man with a 3.8 GPA, with a scholarship [32:45] to play soccer in college. [32:48] He lost all of it overnight. [32:51] Because how do you play soccer with an ankle monitor? [32:58] And if that monitor gets hit by the ball, it starts screaming. [33:05] It starts telling you need to report [33:07] to the nearest ICE office. [33:10] And if you don't run, they will come and take you [33:14] and they will deport you. [33:16] So the trauma and the weight of it all. [33:20] When he goes to sleep, he has to ask his father to come and put [33:24] lotion on it because it hurts. [33:29] So he started putting socks under the device, [33:34] and they called him. [33:35] They told him he needed to come in. [33:39] When he got there, he explained to them the device hurts. [33:45] It gets hot at night, so he puts the socks to protect his skin [33:53] against the monitor. [33:56] They told them he was able to put the sock because it [33:59] wasn't tight enough. [34:03] So they tightened it. [34:08] On August 31, he got up, was going to school. [34:15] On the way, he called his father at 8:03. [34:22] And he said, dad, I don't think I can bear it anymore. [34:29] I feel like I have lost my life. [34:32] [SNIFFLES] At 8:03, 8:06, 8:09, the phone went blank. [34:42] The father called, and called, and called, there's no answer. [34:48] The father thinks, OK, since he told them, go to school. [34:52] We'll talk later. [34:54] Two hours later, the Sheriff came and gave him the news. [35:04] [SNIFFLES] [35:08] Pierre Damas Bel stopped the car with the weight of the system [35:16] on his back. [35:19] With his dignity and his humanity taken away, [35:25] he jumped in front of a moving truck. [35:31] He died by suicide, but he was killed by the system. [35:40] And this is one of the very hundreds of other cases [35:45] we don't hear. [35:47] And this is why we fight. [35:55] This is why we push. [35:58] And this is why I don't believe today [36:02] what Raoul did should be necessary, but it is. [36:12] And so therefore, [SNIFFLES] I am accepting [SNIFFLES] [36:19] this Medal [SNIFFLES] on behalf of those [36:28] who have lost their lives. [36:34] On behalf of those who continue to suffer. [36:40] And on behalf of those who will suffer if we don't do anything. [36:52] Remember, our migration story. [36:58] Remember, it might be 400 years ago, [37:04] it's no different than somebody coming here today. [37:11] We are indeed a nation of immigrants, [37:19] built on stolen land of the original people, [37:25] genocide, and under free labor, and enslavement, [37:32] and murdering of African enslaved in these lands. [37:42] And I believe there is hope yet for us. [37:48] There is hope at the end of the tunnel. [37:53] But only if we are willing to do what must be done. [37:59] Only if we are willing to inhale good and exhale even better. [38:08] Only if we are willing to look in our rearview [38:12] mirror and see those who do not have the same privilege. [38:22] So as we continue this fight, I am asking you [SNIFFLES] to call [38:31] on your senators, Republicans, Democrats, others-- [38:41] because this is not a political issue-- [38:45] asking them to co-sponsor and vote, yes on Senate Bill S.4814. [38:54] That will provide a three-year protection [38:57] for Haitian TPS holders and asylum seekers [39:00] in the United States. [39:03] And we also asking you to call your Congress members, [39:11] [SNIFFLES] asking them to support the Dream and Promise [39:15] Act that will provide a pathway to permanent protection for TPS [39:23] holders, DACA recipients and dreamers, and DED holders. [39:30] People ask, if you've been here for 25 years, [39:36] why are you not a citizen? [39:40] Because if you are undocumented, there is no pathway for you [39:46] to adjust your status. [39:49] The very few ways that you can do so have been taken away. [39:55] And I will leave you with one last story. [39:58] [SNIFFLES] Pr. [39:59] Molis Augustine came to the United States in 2016. [40:06] I had the blessed honor of receiving them in San Diego. [40:14] He moved to Pennsylvania where he met his wife. [40:19] They got married. [40:21] They have two children. [40:25] An eight-year-old little girl that he [40:27] adopted [SNIFFLES] and a two-year-old little boy [40:31] that they had together. [40:35] He followed the rules. [40:37] His wife applied for him to adjust [40:39] his status, which is one of the very few ways [40:43] that you can do that. [40:45] He got approved for his one I30, which is the next step. [40:51] The final step is for him to get approved [40:54] for what is called a Form 485. [41:01] As he was driving to care for his family, [SNIFFLES] [41:08] he was stopped under the false pretense of a broken taillight. [41:14] He was not given a citation. [41:18] He was not given a ticket. [41:21] But he was taken directly to an ICE detention [41:26] because he had an accent. [41:28] So if he had an accent, most surely, [41:31] he does not belong in the United States. [41:34] [SNIFFLES] [41:35] We were able to advocate on his behalf [41:39] and proved that that same administration that just [41:44] took him approved his I-130, which means he's [41:49] qualified to be here. [41:54] They pulled him off of the flight that [41:56] was going to go to Haiti, [SNIFFLES] [42:00] only to turn around two days later to pull his application [42:06] and deny it, and put him back on the flight to be deported. [42:13] Violating his due process, violating every single laws [42:21] and rules, because they wanted to show that he should not [42:29] have spoken up. [42:31] [SNIFFLES] He should have disappeared into the night, [42:34] never to be heard from again. [42:38] Again, we move the politics from the issues [42:44] of human rights and humanity. [42:47] [SNIFFLES] So I will leave you with that. [42:53] As you go your way, remember, you [43:00] are the hope that these people are looking for. [43:06] [SNIFFLES] So join us in creating a world where people [43:14] can be free, [SNIFFLES] can live with dignity, and we, [43:20] as a country can welcome, and care, and love [43:27] those who are in need. [43:29] Remember, your rearview mirror. [43:34] Remember, who you go to bed with. [43:37] Remember, what you put out in the world. [43:41] Again, it is an honor to be here with you today, and thank you [43:47] for welcoming me. [43:48] [SNIFFLES] And thank you for being here. [43:53] And thank you for being on this painful journey with us. [43:58] Thank you. [43:59] [APPLAUSE] [44:27] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Guerline, I need a moment, [44:31] and I know you do too. [44:32] GUERLINE JOZEF: I do. [44:33] [LAUGHTER] [44:34] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: I'm Sueann Caulifield. [44:36] I'm the director of the Donia Human Rights Center [44:38] and a professor of history here at the University of Michigan. [44:42] And it's my honor and privilege to speak with you, [44:48] and [GIGGLES] open up the floor for questions from the audience. [44:54] We're going to start with a few of our students [44:57] who were representatives on the Wallenberg Committee. [45:00] And after then we'll privilege students, but also those of you [45:04] who are faculty community members, please feel [45:07] free to line up behind the microphones who are here-- [45:11] which are here in each of the aisles. [45:13] And so I'll ask-- our first student [45:15] is our undergraduate representative of the Wallenberg [45:18] Committee, Abigail Radcliffe. [45:20] So if you're ready. [45:22] And as we're getting ready, and others are lining up [45:25] the microphone, I have-- [45:28] GUERLINE JOZEF: --thank you. [45:30] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: I will take advantage of the privilege [45:32] to ask the first question. [45:35] First, I want to thank you for that very moving talk, [45:40] and to thank you also for being really, [45:42] a light in these very dark times, [45:44] in this dark chapter of our history. [45:46] A light that we can follow. [45:47] And that reminds us that individuals [45:50] can make a difference in the ways that you suggested [45:52] and in the ways that you're modeling. [45:55] And it also is very clear from your talk [45:59] that this work takes a toll. [46:01] It takes a personal toll. [46:02] Of course, on the people whose stories [46:04] you told us about, but also on you, personally. [46:08] It takes an emotional toll. [46:10] It takes a physical toll. [46:11] And it also has to be lonely sometimes. [46:15] And you ask yourself, how can I keep doing this? [46:19] And you've spoken movingly about how you are never alone [46:24] in this struggle. [46:27] That you're never alone in the struggle for human rights [46:29] and dignity, because whenever you step into a room, [46:32] you're accompanied by leaders like Harriet Tubman, Sojourner [46:35] Truth, Queen Anacaona, Sanité Bélair, Défilée, Toussaint [46:41] Louverture, and many others. [46:43] And it's a variety of ancestors, but what stands out [46:50] are the Black women. [46:52] Black women from the United States and from Haiti, [46:55] both sides of your identity. [46:57] And so I wanted to ask, how does this ancestral lineage sustain [47:02] you and your team when you're facing [47:06] what are clearly overwhelming legal and political headwinds [47:09] today? [47:10] And in particular, I'd love to hear more [47:12] about the Haitian women revolutionaries who [47:14] our audience might not be as familiar with, [47:17] and wonder if there are particular ways [47:19] that their historical experiences and actions speak [47:23] to you today. [47:24] How do you hear their voices? [47:26] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you so much. [47:28] Well, that's long. [47:30] [LAUGHS] And add to that Raoul Wallenberg, who is also [47:37] our ancestor, in really modeling and giving [47:42] the strength and the courage we need to push through. [47:46] You mentioned, I'll start with Harriet. [47:51] I called her mother. [47:55] She was a fierce Christian woman. [48:01] She did not allow enslavement to be a barrier for her. [48:05] She used that as a tool and fuel to be able to not save herself, [48:12] but keeps on coming back. [48:15] She's nuts. [48:16] [LAUGHTER] [48:17] Why would you come back? [48:20] But I do feel sometimes that you don't have a choice when [48:29] that is the calling. [48:30] And I clearly remember when she would have visions [48:36] as a result of abuse-- when she got hit by in her head [48:41] by an iron, I believe. [48:43] And that caused her to pass out from time to time, [48:49] and see visions that guide her through the promised land. [48:57] So really, [SNIFFLES] take that and move through life [49:04] as having her as a guide. [49:08] But we go back to Anacaona, for those who do not know. [49:12] Anybody knows where Haiti is in the map? [49:15] [LAUGHTER] [49:17] I asked because one day I was talking to someone [49:23] and he asked me where in Africa Haiti was. [49:27] [LAUGHTER] [49:29] I said, on the Caribbean side. [49:31] [LAUGHS] 90 minutes from Miami. [49:38] And they still didn't get it. [49:40] But I do ask because I don't want to assume. [49:44] And as Haiti is the second country in the Americas, [49:51] do we know who the first one is? [49:53] AUDIENCE: US. [49:54] GUERLINE JOZEF: The US, yeah. [49:56] And then Haiti, the second in the only successful slave [50:01] revolt. In Anacaona is the mother of Haiti, Native woman. [50:09] The people who received Columbus and saved him from drowning, [50:15] and then he turned around and killed them. [50:19] So that is the history of Haiti. [50:20] Have always been welcoming. [50:22] Have always been caring. [50:25] Have always been abused. [50:28] And so I carried the love and the care of Anacaona [50:32] with me as well. [50:34] Then I have Gran Toya and Sanite Belair. [50:37] These are the women who led the revolution. [50:41] Gran Toya is the woman who taught the soldiers [50:45] like Toussaint Louverture how to fight. [50:48] Because when she was taken from Africa, [50:51] she was one of the Amazonian Warriors. [50:55] And so the warrior blood flows through me. [51:01] [APPLAUSE] [51:07] And when I step into a room, I do have [51:11] a legion of people with me. [51:15] Not just one or two, a legion. [51:18] And so therefore, the work continues to be guided by that. [51:23] So those women, those men who have fought for all people, [51:28] because when the Haitian Revolution became [51:31] a reality, when enslaved people created [51:37] a new identity, a new language, and turn the world upside down, [51:48] because at that time, Black people were not [51:52] considered human beings. [51:56] And upon freeing themselves, they [52:01] said, upon this land all men are created equal no matter [52:09] what your ethnicity is. [52:11] And see, I didn't see race because race [52:15] is a false constructed notion. [52:20] But we do have different ethnic background, different ethnicity, [52:26] but not different races. [52:28] I want to make that clear. [52:30] So this is what guides the work that I do. [52:34] This is what centers humanity. [52:37] Regardless of what your ethnicity is, [52:40] you are deserving of love and you're deserving of care. [52:44] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Thank you. [52:46] [APPLAUSE] [52:52] Abby. [52:54] AUDIENCE: Thank you so much for being here today [52:56] and sharing your story with our community. [52:58] I feel it was truly inspiring for everyone here. [53:02] In regards to our society today, I [53:05] feel that people check our headlines [53:07] and are immediately discouraged, feel [53:09] powerless within our systems, and feel as if their vote has [53:12] no power anymore. [53:14] What is your advice to these people [53:16] who have lost the faith in themselves [53:18] and their ability to be a part of making positive change? [53:21] Thank you. [53:22] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you so much for that answer. [53:25] And coming from what I can see, a very young person, [53:30] you give me hope. [53:31] You give me hope. [53:35] Your voice matter. [53:38] I didn't think I could make a difference. [53:42] And I still don't feel that I make a difference, [53:44] to be honest with you. [53:46] But I have seen people like Raoul, John Lewis, [53:51] and several others that they have shown today [53:54] through the history of this program. [54:00] And people-- every day people. [54:03] Like I said, it starts with you. [54:06] Sometimes, it feels like your voice is not enough, [54:11] but it is necessary for you to continue to speak up. [54:16] Because the privilege that we have [54:20] can be the source of life for somebody else. [54:24] So yes, it will be hard, it will come [54:28] at a very high price for your own personal life, [54:33] but we have been called for such a time as this, [54:39] and our vote as US citizen is the power that we have, [54:45] and we hand it to someone to go represent us, [54:50] and we must hold them accountable. [54:53] And so your voice-- even if it's just even a cup of water [54:58] to someone in need. [55:00] You see a person who's unhoused in or around campus, [55:08] you give them a cup of water, you [55:10] are touching the heart of God. [55:13] So your voice really matters no matter what. [55:18] And I know the headlines, and I know the news, [55:21] and I know the issues are so big that you don't think one [55:25] person can make a difference. [55:27] But I will tell you, it is absolutely untrue. [55:33] Because I went to the border because of a one call, [55:37] and I met with 12 young men and women, [55:40] and I thought that was it. [55:43] But through building and creating [55:46] a home to serve, not to save, but to serve those in need, [55:54] right now, we have been able to touch [55:56] the lives of millions of people that we never [56:00] thought was possible. [56:02] So don't give up. [56:05] Continue to push through. [56:06] And connect with me because I have a home for you. [56:12] AUDIENCE: Thank you. [56:13] [APPLAUSE] [56:20] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Please, anyone [56:21] who has a question, please step up to one of our microphones [56:25] in the aisle here and here. [56:27] And while I'm waiting for additional questions, [56:32] I actually have a whole list of questions. [56:34] [LAUGHS] And one of them was also-- [56:39] one of them you answered partly in your talk. [56:44] It was about, what happens immediately? [56:47] So we see in the news the Supreme [56:50] Court allows the protected status to come to an end [56:56] overnight. [56:58] What happens immediately to people? [57:00] And how are you supporting people like the two women-- [57:05] the two young women whom you spoke of whose whole lives are [57:09] thrown back into the terror that they had felt-- that they [57:12] believed that they had escaped? [57:13] How do you protect or represent the families? [57:17] What do you tell them to do? [57:19] And if you could tell us a little bit about the broader [57:24] impact of that decision on the people whom you're working with. [57:27] GUERLINE JOZEF: Yeah. [57:28] The decision has immediate impact on people. [57:31] Like the two young women shared with me, you went to bed [57:34] and you wake up with this reality. [57:37] What do you do now? [57:38] You hide. [57:41] Because of the fear and the trauma. [57:44] And it is an immediate trauma, an immediate fear. [57:49] And so for us at the Haitian Bridge Alliance, one thing [57:53] we started doing since 2024-- [57:56] because we knew this was coming with the narrative, [57:59] and the misunderstanding, and all of those cruelty, [58:03] we could see. [58:04] Like Harriet Tubman, I had a vision. [58:06] No. [58:07] [LAUGHS] But you could see the cruelty coming. [58:11] So therefore, we started doing family planning. [58:15] But people had faith that no, this was not going to happen. [58:20] Of course, people have a heart. [58:23] They're not going to do this. [58:27] And we kept on telling them have to prepare yourself. [58:30] We hope for the best. [58:32] We fight for the best, but we need to prepare for the worst. [58:35] Unfortunately, the worst became a reality. [58:38] So we continue to find different ways to support the community. [58:45] One of the examples is that, at the end of every month, [58:48] we used to have a community gathering over four to 500, [58:52] 600, sometimes parents and children. [58:55] That would be a time of reprieve for them. [58:59] We have cotton candy, we have a DJ, we have hot dogs. [59:03] We have popcorn. [59:04] And the children are playing while the families [59:07] are getting legal advice, and legal support, [59:10] and medical check ins. [59:12] Now, we have to create different ways to attend to the community, [59:16] because they can no longer leave their homes [59:19] to come get the support. [59:21] We have to find ways to support and protect them. [59:25] That's what I can share on that piece. [59:27] But on the legal part of it, unfortunately, [59:32] once the protection is removed, they [59:36] are immediately into removal or deportation proceedings. [59:44] And so therefore, in the US, we are losing a large support when [59:54] we have over 300,000 nurses, and caretakers, and caregivers, [60:00] the hospitals, the nursing homes are suffering. [60:04] And it's interesting because-- [60:06] [LAUGHS] oh, Lord, help us-- [60:12] the same people who are creating those cruelty, those rules, [60:18] are those same people being taken [60:19] care of by those immigrants. [60:24] And so right now, as a country, we [60:26] are suffering because our nurses, our doctors, [60:29] our teachers are being deported. [60:32] The elder care system is literally [60:35] crumbling because of those policies. [60:40] And on the other side of the coin, [60:42] in a country like Haiti, where over 20% of the country's GDP [60:48] is relying on those TPS holders to care for their churches, [60:53] communities, and loved ones they have left behind. [60:56] So we continue to destabilize those countries like Haiti. [61:01] And I want to highlight that the conditions on the ground [61:05] is partly due to US foreign policies towards the country. [61:10] [APPLAUSE] [61:14] And we need to understand the credit card [61:17] that we have from Citibank was funded by Haiti's last reserve. [61:26] When the US invaded Haiti for over 20 years, [61:31] the first thing that they did was go into the central bank [61:34] and took everything out, and brought it to the US. [61:38] Understanding Haiti being the richest colony, [61:42] becoming the most impoverished country in the hemisphere [61:46] by design. [61:48] Understanding that again, not a political issue [61:55] because both Republicans, Democrats, and in between [61:59] continue to invest in the destabilization of countries [62:05] like Haiti. [62:06] When we currently have 1.4 million [62:08] internally displaced people in Haiti on the verge of famine [62:13] because the United States destroyed the rice farming [62:17] industry completely, making it impossible for people [62:20] to feed themselves. [62:21] Understanding our government destroyed the farming [62:27] of pigs and chickens that were the source of life [62:32] for those farmers in the rural side of the country. [62:36] And they can no longer feed themselves. [62:39] We are responsible for that. [62:43] AUDIENCE: Thank you. [62:45] [APPLAUSE] [62:49] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Please, go ahead. [62:51] Yes. [62:52] AUDIENCE: Good evening. [62:54] My name is Phoebe Jean. [62:55] I'm a first generation Haitian American. [62:57] [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [62:59] [GIGGLES] [63:01] And I'm also a second year master's student [63:03] in the school of social work here. [63:05] And thank you so much for being here, and congratulations [63:07] on your award. [63:08] You began to respond to the question I [63:10] was going to ask in your last response, [63:13] but I just wanted you to speak a little bit more [63:16] to the current realities of those [63:17] who have been most recently deported back [63:20] to Haiti in the last month. [63:25] You touched on it, but if you can continue to speak to that. [63:28] Thank you, Phoebe. [63:29] [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [63:30] AUDIENCE: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [63:32] GUERLINE JOZEF: So when you ask what happened to people, [63:36] we had always had deportation to Haiti, [63:41] even though the official US government site says, [63:46] we are at a level 4, do not travel to Haiti. [63:50] And if any American citizen do travel, [63:53] you need to leave your DNA behind, [63:56] so when you get killed or kidnapped, [63:59] you can be identified. [64:01] That same government is taking American children of TPS [64:09] holders, forcing them into a plane shackled, [64:13] and deporting them into the same conditions they are saying [64:18] is practically a war zone. [64:22] So when they get deported, they get dropped into the street. [64:28] The main airport in Port Au Prince [64:31] have been closed for the past five years [64:34] and has been turned, from what we understand [64:37] and hearing into a US military base. [64:41] There is a small airport on the North side [64:45] of Haiti in Cap-Haitien, where they are deporting people [64:50] without having a welcoming center. [64:54] So basically, they get put in chains, into this flight, [65:00] and then they get deported to Haiti. [65:02] And they drop them there, never to be heard from or seen again. [65:07] That includes US born children, women, and others [65:12] who have made a life in the US. [65:16] Once you get taken while you were driving, going to school, [65:19] or walking while Black, they don't bring you back home [65:23] to pick up a few pieces of clothing. [65:27] What you wear the day you were taken is what you wear. [65:32] And the conditions upon which they detain people, [65:36] you can spend up to 21 days without access [65:40] to even brush your teeth. [65:42] That is in the United States today. [65:46] So the inhuman condition that they put in place [65:50] is not only to infuse the cruelty, [65:57] but to make sure that they use you as an example [66:00] and as a deterrent for other people. [66:02] So when you get deported to Haiti, there is no protection. [66:08] There is no support. [66:10] There is no welcoming. [66:11] And most of the time, we do not know [66:14] what happens to those people. [66:16] The last thing we did here is that unfortunately, five people [66:21] were found dead from a deportation of people who [66:26] did come through Puerto Rico. [66:30] They were deported to Haiti, and five of them [66:33] were found dead on the North side of Haiti. [66:35] But generally, we do not know what [66:38] happens to them until they are able [66:41] and unless they are able to connect with us and say, [66:44] here is where we are. [66:45] But most of the time, people are in hiding, especially now, [66:49] because there is a false advertisement that the US is [66:54] giving people 25 to $3,000 when they are being deported. [66:59] So those same people are becoming targets [67:03] with the false assumption that they have money with them, [67:08] but they could disappear, never to be seen again, unfortunately. [67:15] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Go to this side. [67:16] AUDIENCE: Hi, my name is Natalia, [67:18] and I'm also a Haitian born and raised. [67:21] And I just want to say-- [67:22] I don't want to cry-- but you literally [67:24] touched everyone in this room with your speech today. [67:27] And I just wanted to learn more about your journey [67:30] of getting involved-- [67:32] [CRIES] your journey-- [67:34] [SNIFFLES] your journey of getting involved [67:35] into stepping up, and really pushing for these voices [67:39] of Haitian immigrants who are now being deported. [67:42] And it really touches me because this year, my uncle Dimitri [67:46] Vorbe also went through a detainment, which was prolonged, [67:50] and I just want to learn how to get involved to that. [67:53] GUERLINE JOZEF: Yes. [67:54] Thank you so much. [67:55] And I know of your uncle. [68:00] And we are grateful that he is safe and out. [68:07] But majority of the people don't have that privilege. [68:10] And he was a very highly visible case and very privileged person. [68:17] And again, privilege do help sometimes. [68:23] For me, as I shared previously, that wasn't something [68:28] that I ever thought I would do. [68:30] But meeting those 12 young men and women-- [68:33] by the way, when I met with them, [68:36] my question was-- excuse my language-- what [68:39] the heck are you doing here? [68:41] And they told me they walked from Brazil [68:44] to the United States. [68:47] They walked. [68:49] And in my privilege, I was like, I don't even jog. [68:57] I will take an Uber. [68:59] How did you walk from Brazil? [69:01] And I pulled on the map so I could really [69:03] see if what they said is what I understood. [69:07] And they worked for nine months, some of them, [69:10] crossing the Darién Gap, which is [69:12] one of the most dangerous places on Earth. [69:15] That is the gap between Colombia and Panama, [69:19] where it has been untouched for all these years. [69:23] And some of them survived. [69:25] The majority of them died on the way. [69:28] And that's how I got involved. [69:30] Not by choice, but because it was necessary for me [69:35] to call on a community to create a safe space [69:38] and safe home for folks. [69:40] And that's why I said, I was called and I went to the border [69:44] for the Haitians. [69:45] Then I stayed for the people coming from Yemen, [69:48] coming from Afghanistan, coming from Ukraine. [69:52] We were the first ones receiving the people from Ukraine, [69:55] coming from Venezuela, coming from Cuba, coming from all [69:59] over the world. [70:00] We did go for Haitians, but in true Haitian model, [70:04] we stayed for everyone. [70:07] So please reach out. [70:08] We would love to talk to you some more and get you engaged. [70:11] AUDIENCE: Thank you. [70:12] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you. [70:14] [APPLAUSE] [70:19] AUDIENCE: Once again, congratulations. [70:21] My name is Chelsea Rich. [70:23] I am a second year PhD student in education. [70:28] I am also Haitian. [70:30] I came to the States when I was 10. [70:31] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Why do we have so many Haitians? [70:33] AUDIENCE: We are here. [70:35] We are here. [70:36] [APPLAUSE] [70:38] And so the question that I have for you is a bit personal. [70:43] As a second year student now, one [70:46] of the things that we are tasked in our classes [70:48] is really trying to identify our scholarly identity, [70:52] and connecting it to factors that have influence, [70:56] or reasoning for being in a space, reasoning [70:58] for doing a PhD. [71:00] And for me, I have been struggling a little bit. [71:04] And part of it is because as a Haitian person, seeing what's [71:10] happening right now, I deeply want [71:13] to write about those things. [71:16] However, a concern that comes up for me [71:20] is if I am willing to make the sacrifice that [71:23] is necessary to do the work that is required. [71:27] So a bit of context. [71:29] My brothers are in a situation where [71:32] they had humanitarian parole program, and TPS was removed, [71:37] and so they're now going through an asylum process that is deeply [71:41] costly, deeply stressful. [71:48] Or even anything that could happen. [71:51] My brother was driving the other day, he got stopped, [71:53] and that became a heart crushing issue being [71:56] in Michigan while they are in another state, [71:58] and having to navigate the being in two different spaces at once. [72:05] So I think for me, what I'm asking of you is really, [72:11] how would you recommend balancing or even [72:15] making the choice of decision whether or not to do this work, [72:18] given how it's deeply connected and even when [72:22] we are talking about this idea of research validity [72:26] and legitimacy, the critique that, [72:29] hey, you are too close to this work to do it justice in a way [72:34] that it could be perceived as generalized [72:38] or accepted in it's own form. [72:42] So I wonder if you would share any insights on that. [72:47] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you so much, beloved. [72:48] First of all, you're not alone. [72:52] And please, let's touch base so we can see how together, we [72:56] can support your family, and at least give them [73:01] some guidance, and advice, and things like that. [73:04] That's part of the work that we do. [73:06] We do do direct legal representation, [73:10] but we cannot take everyone. [73:11] So we are doing the best that we can. [73:16] The people closest to the cause or the people [73:19] feeling it the most, and they are [73:22] the ones who are the experts. [73:24] People can study things, they can write about things, [73:29] but lived experience cannot be minimized. [73:34] And I do hear that a lot. [73:38] And I carry that with me. [73:40] And you cry, and that becomes part of it. [73:44] I remember, people tells me, you cry too much. [73:48] Stop crying. [73:49] And my mother, in a true Haitian woman said, tighten your belt. [73:53] It's like, don't let them see you cry. [73:56] And I said, well-- [74:00] till my mother said, let them see. [74:03] Let them see the reality. [74:05] [APPLAUSE] [74:09] Let them see the reality of the cruelty that they have created. [74:13] And if I have to come here and cry through this lecture, [74:19] I did tell the president, you're going [74:21] to get what you're going to get today. [74:23] [LAUGHS] And so I think the pain of it being so close to it, [74:34] the fear of getting that call of what that will mean for you [74:41] and your family, that is true. [74:44] And you have to share it. [74:46] And it is a risk. [74:47] And you have to calculate what level of risk [74:51] you are able and willing to take because you have people [74:55] depending on you. [74:57] And so for those who are not close to the issue, [75:03] you have your colleagues, you have your fellow PhD students. [75:09] That is a way for you to let her know that she's not alone. [75:14] To see how you can use your privilege [75:18] to support her in her family. [75:20] She might need a cup of water. [75:22] She might need a shoulder to cry on. [75:25] And the loneliness that comes with that [75:28] is something as a community here at the university, [75:32] we can be a support for and with you. [75:36] [APPLAUSE] [75:39] Thank you. [75:41] And so I will say speak to an attorney [75:46] to see the level of risk that you can take, [75:49] and that will impact you and your family, and let's talk [75:53] and see how it can be on this journey together. [75:55] AUDIENCE: Thank you. [75:56] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you. [75:58] [APPLAUSE] [76:02] AUDIENCE: Hi, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [76:04] GUERLINE JOZEF: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [76:05] AUDIENCE: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [76:06] [LAUGHTER] [76:09] Lots of Haitians. [76:12] My name is Carter Charles. [76:13] I'm a visiting scholar in the Department of Sociology. [76:15] I'm a faculty member in Canada and the University of Windsor. [76:18] So I cross the border very often to come to Michigan [76:21] to lead workshops. [76:23] And I research Haitian migration. [76:25] I also serve as an academic expert in immigration courts [76:29] to help with Haitian cases. [76:34] It was fantastic, everything that you did. [76:37] Congratulations. [76:37] [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [76:41] So my question is two part. [76:44] It's a two-fold type of question. [76:46] The first part is, there are two bills that you're currently [76:49] working on. [76:50] And you mentioned them in your address. [76:54] So I would like for you to probably speak a little bit more [76:57] on those. [76:58] And then in order for non-Haitians who are interested [77:02] here to help to know how they can support these kind of bills. [77:06] Obviously, they can call on Congress members, [77:10] they can do that, but what can they [77:12] do from your perspective outside of that to help [77:16] move this cause forward? [77:18] And the other part of the question [77:20] is, for people who are interested in helping Haitians [77:23] in Haiti, I'm wondering whether you [77:25] have any organization in mind that you [77:28] feel like is a trustworthy organization that you could [77:32] share with us here, so that people [77:34] who are using the kindness of the heart and want to help, [77:39] they can also help these people going back to Haiti. [77:43] People who unfortunately being deported as we're speaking. [77:46] So thank you again. [77:48] [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] And this is the second time that I feel like [77:51] in this week I've interacted with you. [77:53] Yesterday, I was also on that call from classical [77:56] where you were also chatting. [77:57] [LAUGHS] So we'll talk later. [77:59] GUERLINE JOZEF: [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] [78:00] [LAUGHTER] [78:02] They are making me speak Spanish. [78:03] My Spanish is that long and my daughter tells me every day, [78:07] mommy, it's not Rosa, it's Rosa. [78:09] So thank you for the question. [78:12] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: A little bit worried about time. [78:14] I'm wondering, because somebody has been also waiting. [78:17] GUERLINE JOZEF: I'll be quick. [78:18] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Can we-- no, I [78:19] thought we could take one more question [78:21] and then you could answer. [78:21] GUERLINE JOZEF: I told you, my memory is not that long. [78:24] [LAUGHTER] [78:26] He only had two questions that I'm going to try. [78:31] But to go quickly on the Bills. [78:34] Thank you so much. [78:35] Senate Bill S.4814 is the part of the Senate [78:41] that has already been passed on the house, [78:44] which was a historic under Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, [78:50] got us passed the House with both Republican and Democrat [78:55] votes. [78:56] Again, not political, human factor. [79:00] And now we are in the Senate. [79:02] We are currently at 43, and we need 60. [79:06] So that means we need about 13 plus Republicans [79:11] to join on the Bill to make that a reality. [79:15] That Bill has a term limit of three years that [79:18] would protect current Haitians who [79:20] are in the United States for the temporary protection for three [79:25] years. [79:26] That's the S.4814. [79:30] And we are calling on everyone. [79:32] Please, please, please, call your senators, Republican, [79:35] Democrat, independent, anything in between, [79:38] asking them to save the lives of those Haitians [79:42] who are in the country. [79:43] Business owners, mothers, fathers, students, [79:47] workers to be able to protect them right now because Haiti [79:53] is unsafe. [79:55] What I tell people is that right now, [79:57] we are at the end season of mango, and avocado, [80:02] and going to the beach, and having our conch. [80:05] I would love to be there now because mango is life. [80:09] [LAUGHTER] [80:11] But I cannot be there because of the conditions on the ground. [80:19] So therefore, we need that protection for the people [80:22] while we fight, and we work to ensure [80:26] that Haiti move past the conditions [80:29] they are now, so people can return home [80:32] with dignity and safety. [80:35] So that's S.4814. [80:38] The second one is the Dream and Promise Act. [80:41] We are fighting to get it passed in the House side. [80:46] We need one more person to say yes. [80:49] We have 217. [80:52] We need 218. [80:53] Again, Republican and Democrat bipartisan [80:57] to get those move to protect and provide a pathway for people [81:02] to become eligible to adjust to permanent residency [81:07] because it doesn't exist currently. [81:11] For those supporting Haiti, we have an organization, GARR. [81:17] I don't remember what the full name is. [81:20] Again, my brain is scrambled. [81:23] But GARR is one of the organizations [81:25] we are partnering with to see if we [81:27] can put in place some mechanism to be able to welcome people who [81:31] are being deported to Haiti and provide them [81:34] with basic necessities. [81:36] But currently, there is nothing in place. [81:38] We are trying to build those systems [81:41] to be able to at least welcome people [81:46] with some kind of dignity. [81:48] Thank you. [81:50] AUDIENCE: I'll try to be brief. [81:52] Thank you so much. [81:53] My name is Susan Page, and I'm a Professor [81:56] of practice at the Ford School of Public Policy [81:59] and at the law school. [82:01] I lived and worked in Haiti before [82:05] the last, last, last crisis. [82:08] But I'm really concerned about what more [82:11] we can do on the side that's in Haiti to-- [82:16] I know that there's the UN gang suppression unit. [82:20] And on the political side, what else could we do? [82:26] These Bills are great, and they will [82:28] help with people who are currently in the United States [82:32] or facing deportation, which obviously, is really critical. [82:37] But also, what can we do to help the situation in Haiti, [82:41] given that we have created so much of the chaos? [82:44] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you. [82:45] AUDIENCE: And thank you again. [82:46] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you so much, Professor. [82:48] And I need your information. [82:50] You just said you are in charge of the law department [82:54] or something? [82:55] [LAUGHTER] [82:56] AUDIENCE: No, just a professor. [82:58] But there are plenty of people here [83:01] who work in the Immigration Law Clinic, [83:04] sitting right in the front row, who [83:05] are the deputies for the Donia human Rights Center. [83:09] So we have a lot of support in this room. [83:12] GUERLINE JOZEF: I already made friends with one. [83:15] [LAUGHS] But I said that-- honestly, [83:20] thank you, because we need more people [83:22] into the field, especially, at this point. [83:25] For Haitian immigrants, the last report shows only 18% of us [83:29] have representation. [83:30] Not even good representation. [83:32] Only 18% have access to legal representation, which [83:36] means we are in desperate need. [83:41] Again, twofold. [83:43] Because 20% of Haiti's GDP-- more than that-- [83:49] is literally depending on the diaspora, specifically, the TPS [83:55] holders. [83:56] Supporting that keeps the economy in somewhat [84:02] of a quasi stable state. [84:08] But in Haiti right now, you mentioned the US suppression [84:13] force that have been changing over time based [84:17] on what's needed on the ground. [84:19] We also have Erik Prince in Haiti providing quote unquote [84:23] security. [84:24] But things are getting worse and worse. [84:27] We are looking into what is currently the government, if you [84:35] want to say that to push to see what can be done on the ground. [84:41] But the things are so volatile. [84:45] Even places like Kenscoff, which is one of the safest cities [84:50] outside of Port Au Prince. [84:52] And my family lives on the way to Kenscoff-- [84:56] very privileged area-- [84:59] yet last month, the armed groups went and killed 47 people [85:05] and kidnapped over 50. [85:07] And the government did nothing. [85:10] They said nothing. [85:12] Yet we have a UN force, and we have Erik Prince on the ground, [85:17] none of them were present. [85:24] So there's a lot that needs to be considered in Haiti [85:29] and how we can support. [85:32] Unfortunately, we do not know exactly what that is. [85:36] There is a call to support Haitian-led initiatives [85:40] to allow the Haitians to decide their own destiny, which [85:46] is beautiful in concept. [85:48] And we want that. [85:49] We have proven that we can change the world. [85:52] We did 1803, we did 1804. [85:54] We give the world a new flavor of what it means to be human. [85:58] So Haitians can do this. [86:01] But the interference of outside forces [86:04] continues to undermine the efforts of the people. [86:10] So I think there need to be a deeper conversation on what [86:14] needs to look like, and what needs [86:17] to be put in place to really allow Haiti to flourish, [86:23] to really allow Haiti to be self-determined, [86:27] to truly allow Haiti to prosper. [86:30] But we all know that it is not just [86:33] the conditions on the ground right now. [86:35] It is by design that Haiti is in the state [86:39] that they are-- that we are. [86:42] So I would love to think through, [86:44] based on your experience in Haiti, [86:46] how and what kind of things we can put in place to make sure [86:52] that we move past the current conditions that makes it [86:56] unbearable and unlivable, where a young man who was told [87:03] that they were going to send him back to Haiti, [87:05] ended up having an ankle bracelet that anyone who [87:10] saw him literally labeled him as a criminal, that took his life. [87:15] How do we prevent that from continuing [87:17] to happening both on the ground in Haiti and here in the US? [87:22] AUDIENCE: Thank you so much. [87:23] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you. [87:24] [APPLAUSE] [87:31] SUEANN CAULIFIELD: Guerline Jozef, thank you so much. [87:34] We must allow you some rest now. [87:36] [LAUGHS] And I just want to say a word of thanks to a few people [87:44] before we close. [87:45] I'd like to say thank you to President Grasso, Provost [87:49] Macaulay, the deans of U-M schools, [87:52] including Rosie Carballo from LSNA, [87:56] and other campus leaders who are present tonight, [87:59] to Siobhan Harlow, the Chair and members of the Wallenberg Medal [88:03] Executive Committee, donors, and other attendees who are here. [88:07] I also want to thank our staff, without whom nothing happens, [88:11] particularly, Rachel Levy, who is [88:14] the administrator of the Wallenberg Medal process. [88:19] The entire process, which goes back much longer [88:21] than a year for each medalist. [88:24] And it includes also taking care of all [88:26] of the details of all of the events [88:28] that have happened through this multi-day visit. [88:31] And also Wes Wright, the Donia Human Rights program specialist [88:36] who steps in to help whenever necessary. [88:39] Thank you, of course, to Guerline Jozef [88:41] and to Paige Chinsali, who's here [88:44] filming right in front of us. [88:46] [APPLAUSE] [88:48] From the Haitian Bridge Alliance, for your very-- [88:52] for your campus visit, which has included [88:53] many, many different meetings with our students and faculty. [88:56] And it's been extremely inspirational and educational [89:00] for all of us. [89:01] I also want to recognize Professors Valadez and Hsu [89:05] and their students who created the film that you [89:08] saw before the event began. [89:10] [APPLAUSE] [89:13] And I must acknowledge that funding [89:15] for this event for the accessibility services [89:18] were provided through the Disability Equity Office. [89:21] I want to acknowledge, in particular, our ASL [89:23] interpreters, Casey Ann Watson and Casey Lundgren. [89:27] [APPLAUSE] [89:32] Thank you to the global project center's team, [89:34] LSA advancement staff. [89:36] And finally, just a final word that, as you exit, [89:39] we invite you to take a commemorative book [89:42] about the Wallenberg medal and lecture [89:44] at the University of Michigan. [89:45] This is a project of the Wallenberg Executive Committee. [89:48] Copies are available at the door, [89:49] so please feel free to take them. [89:51] And thank you, again to all of you for attending. [89:54] Thank you. [89:55] GUERLINE JOZEF: Thank you. [89:56] [APPLAUSE]