The United States recently sent around 50 Haitian nationals back to Haiti on a deportation flight, conducted by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This decision has drawn criticism from advocates who argue that sending individuals back to Haiti amid a surge in deadly gang violence and instability could potentially be a death sentence. The details of the flight, including its origin in the US and its destination in Haiti, were not shared by the US Department of Homeland Security.
According to a report by the Miami Herald, the deportation flight carried 74 Haitians and was bound for Cap-Haitien in northern Haiti. The flight originated from the US state of Louisiana and was scheduled to make a stop in Miami before continuing to its final destination. This marks the first deportation flight to Haiti since January, and human rights advocates have condemned the decision, accusing the Biden administration of disregarding the dire humanitarian situation in Haiti.
Haiti has been experiencing widespread gang violence, exacerbated by the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021 and escalating further in late February with attacks on prisons, police stations, and other state institutions. This ongoing unrest has forced Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce plans to step down, leaving the country in a fragile political transition. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have been displaced, contributing to a deepening humanitarian crisis in the country.
In response to the deportations, US lawmakers, activists, and civil society groups have called on the Biden administration to halt deportations to Haiti and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals in the US. TPS is granted to individuals from countries facing temporary unsafe conditions, allowing them to remain in the US without fear of deportation and work legally. Haiti’s TPS designation is set to expire in early August, and advocates argue that the current situation in Haiti warrants an extension and redesignation of the program.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 13,000 migrants were deported to Haiti from neighboring countries in March alone, further exacerbating the challenges faced by Haitians amidst the ongoing crisis. The situation in Haiti, with gangs controlling key ports, the largest airport, and parts of the capital city, has left citizens on the brink of famine. Rights advocates warn that deporting individuals back to such a volatile environment could have severe consequences, including putting their lives at risk.
Activists continue to urge the Biden administration to take a more compassionate and humane approach towards Haitian immigrants, considering the catastrophic conditions in their home country. US Congresswoman Cori Bush emphasized the moral responsibility of the US government to support Haitians fleeing dire conditions and called for the suspension of deportations among other measures. The ongoing advocacy efforts aim to protect the lives and well-being of Haitian nationals while addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis in the country.
