Washington, DC — Yesterday, the United States reinstituted deportations to Haiti, sending dozens of Haitians back to dangerous conditions in the nation via the first deportation flight to the nation since January.
“Why is the U.S. exacerbating chaos and cruelty in a country already grappling with a humanitarian and insecurity crisis? This action not only violates U.S. and international law but is also morally reprehensible and represents a flawed foreign policy.
…We urge this administration to cease all deportations considering the deadly conditions that Haitians may face upon their arrival. Deportations to Haiti are a clear example of how the United States continues to contribute to the destabilization of the country.”
The following is a statement from Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
“President Biden has said the U.S. is a “close and enduring friend” of Haiti. The way to treat our friend during a time of deep crisis and unrest is not to reinstitute deportations. Continuing to do so merely fuels more chaos which is against our national interests and inconsistent with core American values and with standing Biden administration policy.
Let’s be clear, if the United States has correctly determined that granting TPS to Haiti is in our national interest, then we should halt deportations. We stand with our friends in the Haitian American community and others in calling for a moratorium on deportations to Haiti for as long as the deadly crisis persists.”
Additional Resources
- Haitian Bridge Alliance press release issued yesterday denouncing deportation flights to Haiti
- Press release and audio recording of a press conference call last week with congressional Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), and Rep. Cori Bush (MO-01) along with Haitian organizations and activists
- Statement by Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL)
- March 2023 letter from Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) and more than 450 immigration, human rights, faith-based, and civil rights organizations to the Biden administration urging the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and a moratorium on deportations.
