The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has urged the United States to stop forcibly returning Haitians to Haiti due to the country’s current situation of gang violence and political instability. The UNHCR stated that returning Haitians may face life-threatening risks or further displacement if sent back to their home country. The call came after another deportation flight from the US landed in Haiti, marking the second such flight in the past month. The US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the flight.
Haiti has been experiencing widespread gang violence in recent years, with the situation further escalating after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. In late February, armed groups attacked prisons, police stations, and other state institutions in the capital, Port-au-Prince, leading to a dire humanitarian and security situation. The unrest forced the unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce plans to step down, adding to the political instability in the country. The UN reported that 362,000 people were internally displaced across Haiti, with half of them being children, while the International Organization for Migration stated that about 95,000 people fled Port-au-Prince in one month.
The recent US deportation flight to Haiti has sparked criticism from lawmakers and rights advocates in the country. Blaine Bookey, the legal director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, called the deportations a disgrace that violated laws, treaty obligations, and basic principles of humanity. Policy director Sunil Varghese stated that forcibly returning Haitians put them back into grave danger and was unconscionable. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin also criticized the deportations, urging the Biden administration to halt the flights and redesignate Haiti for temporary protected status (TPS), which allows nationals from certain countries facing dangerous conditions to stay in the US and work without fear of deportation.
The UNHCR’s call to the US government to refrain from forcibly returning Haitians to Haiti came amidst the dire security and humanitarian situation in the country. The continued gang violence, political instability, and high levels of internal displacement have created a precarious and unsafe environment for Haitians to return to. The deportation flights from the US have raised concerns about putting people’s lives at risk and violating legal and humanitarian principles. Lawmakers and advocates have called on the Biden administration to prioritize the safety of Haitians in the US and reconsider the decision to deport individuals back to Haiti.
As the situation in Haiti remains tense and unpredictable, with ongoing violence and instability, the need for international support and protection for Haitian nationals is crucial. The expiration of Haiti’s TPS designation in early August further highlights the urgency of finding solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of Haitians in the US. Providing temporary protected status and suspending deportation flights are seen as necessary steps to protect individuals at risk and uphold humanitarian values. The UNHCR’s advocacy for the US government to reconsider its deportation policies reflects a broader call for compassion, respect for human rights, and the promotion of safety and security for vulnerable populations.
