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The United Nations refugee agency has officially requested the United States to immediately cease the forced repatriation of Haitian nationals amid the ongoing violence and political instability in Haiti.
In a recent social media post, the UNHCR implored the Biden administration to halt deportations, citing severe risks and potential displacement facing returnees. “We urge the US government to refrain from forcibly returning Haitians who may face life-threatening risks or further displacement,” the agency stated. This plea followed the landing of another US deportation flight in Haiti on Thursday.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the US Department of Homeland Security has not yet responded to inquiries about the recent flight, which marks the second such deportation this month. Last month, approximately 50 Haitians were sent back, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations.
This comes as Haiti has been plagued by rampant gang violence and instability, exacerbated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. The situation deteriorated further in February when armed groups launched attacks on state institutions, forcing Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce plans for a political transition. Nearly 362,000 people, half of them children, have been internally displaced, with around 95,000 fleeing Port-au-Prince in just one month.
Critics, including lawmakers and advocates, have condemned the deportations, calling for an immediate halt and urging the US to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status. Blaine Bookey, legal director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, called the deportations “a disgrace” and stated, “They protect no one. They ‘deter’ no one. They violate our laws and treaty obligations, legal guidance from the UN Refugee Agency, and basic principles of humanity. They must end.” Sunil Varghese, policy director at the International Refugee Assistance Project, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It is unconscionable to forcibly return people back to Haiti at this time.”
Senator Dick Durbin also voiced his concerns, urging the Biden administration to stop risking the safety of Haitians by deporting them to dangerous conditions. He advocated for redesignating Haiti for Temporary Protected Status, which allows nationals from certain countries to stay in the US due to unsafe conditions back home. Haiti’s current TPS designation is set to expire in early August.
