As deadly gang violence intensifies on the Caribbean island nation, almost 500 immigration and human rights organizations signed a statement pleading with the U.S. government to stop deporting Haitians and increase protections for those who migrate.
Together with 481 other migration, human rights, religious, and civil rights organizations, the San Diego-based non-profit Haitian Bridge Alliance published a letter on Wednesday urging the U.S. administration to prolong Haitians’ temporary protected status (TPS), stop deportations and forced returns, free detained migrants, and increase refugee parole programs.
International organizations, including the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund, together with their employees, have begun to evacuate their citizens from Haiti, including the United States, Canada, and France.
Despite criticism from the U.N., neighboring nations have increased border security and deported Haitians who were escaping the violence back into their country. In order to protect their embassies, the United States and Canada have also sent soldiers.
The letter contended that forced relocation and migration should be seen as inextricably linked to the absence of “reparatory justice for slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonial imperialism,” and that “if the United States cannot keep its personnel safe in Haiti, then the Haitian government is unlikely to keep Haitian nationals safe.”
More than two weeks have passed since politicians in Haiti were unable to agree on the appointment of an interim prime minister and president of the transition council. Meanwhile, groups of heavily armed gangs have been fighting over areas of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince, that they do not yet control.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation on March 11, and the council was initially supposed to make a decision within 48 hours. But work was impeded by factional bickering and threats. It said in a statement on Wednesday that it was completing a document outlining its operating methodology.
The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, according to UN estimates, and over 360,000 Haitians are internally displaced. Access to regular income, food, and medical treatment is also impeded by the constantly moving fighting lines.
Haiti’s Sunrise Airlines resumed flights to Miami from the somewhat tranquil northern city of Cap-Haitien on Monday, but the country’s capital’s airport is still closed. The violence had forced the cancellation of both internal and international flights.
In a video speech on Wednesday, gang boss Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier demanded that the fighting continue. “Planes must not fly in the country. We need to keep marching,” he said.
(Reuters)
