The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has urged the United States to stop forcibly returning Haitians to their home country due to the ongoing surge in gang violence and political instability. The agency warned that those returned to Haiti may face life-threatening risks and further displacement. This call comes after another deportation flight from the US landed in Haiti, marking the second such flight in a month. The US Department of Homeland Security has not commented on the specifics of the flight or how many individuals were on board.
Haiti has been grappling with widespread gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, which created a power vacuum. The situation worsened in late February when armed groups launched attacks on prisons, police stations, and other state institutions in the capital, Port-au-Prince. The unrest led to the announcement of plans by Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down, further complicating the political transition. Close to 362,000 people have been internally displaced across Haiti, with half of them being children. The capital has been hardest hit by the recent violence, leading to approximately 95,000 people fleeing the area in just one month.
The recent deportation flight from the US has faced criticism from lawmakers and rights advocates who argue that sending Haitians back to the country puts their lives at risk. Blaine Bookey, legal director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, condemned the deportations as a violation of laws and treaty obligations and called for an end to the practice. Policy director Sunil Varghese also highlighted the dangers of deporting individuals back to Haiti, emphasizing the need to protect them from harm. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin has urged the Biden administration to halt deportation flights and renew Haiti’s temporary protected status (TPS), which is set to expire in August.
The deportation of Haitians from the US has sparked outrage among human rights organizations and advocates who argue that returning individuals to Haiti at this time is unconscionable. Critics believe that the deportations not only violate legal obligations but also put lives at risk in a country facing extreme violence and instability. As the crisis in Haiti continues to escalate, calls for a moratorium on deportations and the renewal of TPS for Haitian nationals have gained momentum. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are pressuring the Biden administration to take immediate action to protect the safety and well-being of Haitians in the US.
The UNHCR has joined a chorus of voices urging the US government to reconsider its policy of deporting Haitians back to their home country given the precarious security and humanitarian situation. The agency has emphasized the need to prioritize the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals who may face life-threatening risks if returned to Haiti. As the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to address the crisis, the fate of Haitian nationals in the US hangs in the balance. It remains to be seen whether the US will heed calls to halt deportation flights and provide much-needed support to those impacted by violence and displacement in Haiti.
