Longtime Albertville residents have shared rumors of high crime and concerns that schools would be engulfed by children unwilling to assimilate.
From left, Makendy Durerger, Daniel Emmanuel-Laguerre, and Jolken Plaisir, sit in the sanctuary of Eglise Porte Etroite, a Haitian church in Marshall County, Alabama, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024.Marshall County, he said, is far different from Léogâne on the island of Haiti.
Jolken Plaisir, 29, came in March and found a job at an auto supply plant in Cullman. Living in Mirebalais, he dreamed of coming to America in hopes of finding a better life. One speaker, however, said Haitians “have smells to them. They’re not like us. They’re not here to be Americanized.”Jeff Lamour is a businessman who graduated from Albertville High in 2017. While a student, he participated in the State Indoor Track and Field Championship, and holds several school records in the 100-meter and 60-meter dash.
A wave of unrest on the island earlier this year began when armed paramilitary gangs seized the capital at Port-au-Prince, emptied prisons and forcing out the government. Almost 1,400 people were wounded or killed from April through June, a quarter of them women or children, according to the U.N. Drive by the brick sanctuary on Rose Road and you’ll see cars extending past the parking lot, squeezed into neat rows on the grass.
He is earning a degree in logistics and calls the church his real home. On Saturday, people came for a prayer service that lasted 12 hours, he said. Those who attended prayed for “better things to come.” “The best way is love, and to reeducate Americans and reeducate Haitians. I know it’s not easy when you’re not used to our culture.”
He also feels U.S. policy which allows up to 30,000 people a month from Haiti and three other countries to immigrate for work is being abused. “People are getting rich off of this thing, and the Haitian people aren’t seeing any of the money,” he said. “You’ve got guys who contract with those companies who can hire somebody for barely nothing.”During the series of community meetings with longtime residents of Albertville, audience members shared rumors of high crime from Haitian gangs and concerns that already overcrowded schools would be engulfed by children from families unwilling to assimilate.
Eventually, some students become proficient in English and no longer require extra instruction. But Reeves said schools in Albertville will eventually need expansion, and more bilingual teachers, counselors and aides.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Haitian immigrants working at an Alabama poultry plant stokes fear, anger: Here’s the reality“I think I understand the real root of this, and maybe you guys need to do some soul searching,” one city leader said.
Read more »
Colorado, Deion Sanders expected to hire George Helow as defensive coach, sources sayThe longtime assistant was recently with Alabama and Nick Saban before the Playoff
Read more »
Alabama Workforce Pathways Act could prove effective for Alabama’s workforceThat bill will go into effect October 1.
Read more »
Alabama bill would require permits for assault weaponsA prefilled bill with the Alabama Legislature could change a gun law in Alabama.
Read more »
Birmingham, Alabama (US) job with University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)Postdoctoral fellow position, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Dr.
Read more »
Alabama sheriff seeks to amend Alabama’s permitless carry law, require permits for those under 21Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said that by requiring gun permits, law enforcement can seize weapons used by younger offenders during gun and gang-related violence.
Read more »