LAKE WORTH -- A week after urging Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to allow undocumented Haitians to stay in the United States because of the devastation caused by four hurricanes, Rep. Alcee Hastings met with more than 150 Haitians in Lake Worth.

''We hope you are outraged at what's been done,'' Hastings, D-Miramar, said on Saturday at a forum on the issue at Palm Beach Community College.

Hastings authored a bill that would give Haitian nationals in the United States protection from deportation because of their country's political and economic problems, but only 50 of his colleagues supported it. Yet he is confident that if Barack Obama is elected, the policy will change.

''If he's elected, I'll put my reputation on it. He will follow through,'' Hastings said.

There are about 20,000 undocumented Haitians living in the United States, according to the U.S. Census. South Florida is home to the largest number. About 31,000 Haitians are in Palm Beach County, although community leaders say the actual number is probably double that.

Hastings pointed out that this country has failed to grant Haitians protective status but warns its own citizens not to travel there.

''Can we in any good conscience send anyone to Haiti right now?'' Marleine Bastien, executive director of Haitian Women of Miami, said.

Federal authorities are expecting to interdict more Cubans and Haitians this year than any time since the so-called rafter crisis of 1994, when about 40,000 migrants headed for Florida. Just on Friday, the Coast Guard in Miami intercepted 52 Haitians and five Indian nationals who were on an overloaded boat near the Bahamas.

Democratic lawmakers in Florida have urged the Bush administration to grant protected status to Haitian refugees or treat them the same as Cubans are treated.

Under the ''wet-foot/dry-foot'' policy, Cuban refugees intercepted at sea are returned to Cuba, but if they make it to land, they can stay. Haitians are always deported.

''I don't accept this wet-foot/dry-foot garbage. It has to do with racism. Pure and simple,'' Hastings said, prompting applause from the audience.

Pauline Jean Simon, a Haitian advocate, said without the order, undocumented Haitians are fleeing to Canada or living on the streets to avoid deportation. She told the story of a mother arrested in her hospital bed, days after giving birth, and parents forced to leave their children with relatives.

''They'll never be the same,'' she said. ``It's really discrimination.''

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