Overview:
U.S. authorities Thursday deported 82 Haitians, including children, Thursday — bringing the total number forcibly returned since Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ended to 401. Landing amid a surge in kidnappings and gang violence across Haiti, United Nations officials and Haitian rights advocates continue to call for an end to the forced removals.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — United States authorities returned 82 Haitians on the fourth deportation flight since Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ended, according to officials from the National Office for Migration (ONM). Thursday’s flight brings the number of deportees in recent months to 401 people.
ONM, as reported by the Miami Herald, stated the flight was initially expected to carry 71 Haitian migrants, but the number increased by more than 10 additional people upon arrival at Cap-Haïtien International Airport.
The flights are landing as human rights advocates decry the forced returns, which have reached past 200,000 people from all countries deporting to Haiti this year.
Speaking during the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on the U.S. to suspend the forced deportation, given the dangerous situations in countries to which they are being returned.
“I urge the United States to halt the return of people to places where they could suffer irreparable harm, including Haiti, and to ensure due process for all removals to third countries,” Türk told the assembly.
Fourth flight follows ICE promise
In early July, U.S. authorities informed Haiti’s migration office that they planned to send two deportation flights per week, carrying up to 250 people total. Their announcement came after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to terminate the 15-year-old immigration program for an estimated 350,000 Haitians.
Since then, hundreds of Haitians have been forcibly returned to Haiti after being arrested by ICE agents, while others are still waiting their turn.
Many left the country over a decade ago. Others were born in countries other than Haiti and the U.S., and have never set foot in Haiti. Among this latter group are minor children of the deportees.
Also deporting Haitians are the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, among others — bringing the latest deportations numbers to over 200,000 people between January and September, according to the United Nations and the Support Group for Repatriates and Refugees (GARR).
“It is a considerable number given the humanitarian situation we are facing in Haiti,” Stenley Orbruth Doriscar, GARR’s communications officer, told The Haitian Times.
“Given this situation, we can no longer continue receiving people into the country.”
Arrivals amid surge in violence
The flights coincide with a surge in gang violence, including a deadly mass killing in the commune of Kenscoff that left nearly 50 people dead.
In just five days, gangs stepping up attacks on civilians to expand their turf have been blamed for at least four kidnappings and a deadly kidnapping attempt. According to local media, based on sources including eyewitness accounts from people present at the scene, on-the-ground observations by media reporters, statements from people who are still being held captive by their abductors, and testimonies from family members, gangs allegedly kidnapped:
- A government agency director, a lawyer and two police officers in Gros-Morne on Sept. 6.
- Two students and their driver in Delmas 75 on Sept. 9.
- Radio Métropole journalist Wesly Renaud Jean in Delmas 31 on Sept. 7.
- An unidentified person on Ruelle Vaillant in Port-au-Prince on Sept. 10.
The kidnapping attempt occurred in Delmas 31 on Sept. 10, local media outlets reported. Both the alleged kidnapper and a resident were killed.
All of these victims remain in the hands of their kidnappers following their abductions. They join the case of James Boyard, the National Police of Haiti (PNH) inspector general and chief of staff to the defense minister, who has also remained in captivity with his child since June.
Disgraceful. Hardworking people, no criminal background being treated like criminals.