On December 13th, the Biden administration conducted yet another removal flight to Haiti, carrying an estimated 26 people.
This comes just a week after DHS Secretary Mayorkas redesignated and extended TPS for Haiti, citing “socioeconomic challenges, political instability, and gang violence and crime” as the rationale for the humanitarian relief. Those who arrive after the announcement date of November 6, 2022 are not eligible for this protection.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, criminal gangs in Haiti have killed an estimated 1,448 people, injured 1,145, and kidnapped 1,005 so far this year. It is unfathomable that the United States would expel people back to a country where on a daily basis people face threats of gang violence, hunger, and now a cholera epidemic.
The decision to deport people into this situation only serves to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. It violates this nation’s obligations under international law to provide protection. Anti-Blackness in US immigration policies and practices has been well-documented; this is yet another example. We call on the U.S. government to immediately halt all removals to Haiti.
The Biden administration must comply with the wind-down of Title 42 and commit to protecting asylum, rather than revive even more anti-immigrant policies such as imposing an asylum ban. We also call for an expansion of humanitarian pathways to enter the United States, so that migrants are not forced to undertake life-threatening journeys in the hope of reaching safety.
To demand an end to deportation flights to Haiti, call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1111. You can also click HERE to send an email.
Comments
Marianne Moore (not verified)
I have been active in my support of the people of Haiti for 20 years through student sponsorship, Just Haiti Coffee and fundraising to build schools in Leon and Baraderes. The conditions are dreadful in Haiti - stop deporting our brothers and sisters from Haiti back to such dire conditions