May 9, 2025

Contact: media@haitianbridge.org; info@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, CA – Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) commends His Holiness Pope Leo XIV  on his election to the papacy. As the world continues to mourn the passing of Pope Francis, we welcome this new chapter with hope and prayerful anticipation for a renewed commitment to justice, compassion, and human dignity—especially for migrants and asylum seekers.

Pope Leo XIV assumes the papacy at a time of mounting global displacement. More than 110 million people  around the world have been forcibly uprooted by conflict, persecution, environmental catastrophe, and economic collapse. Among them are countless Haitian nationals and other Black migrants who face harsh immigration policies, racism, and exclusion—particularly in the United States.

Statement Released by Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge

“Pope Leo XIV’s election is a beacon of hope for migrants and refugees worldwide. His unwavering stance against unjust immigration policies, including those of the Trump and Vance administration , demonstrates a profound commitment to human dignity and justice. We urge the Holy Father to continue this courageous advocacy, using his influential voice to challenge oppressive systems and to champion the rights of those seeking safety and compassion.”

Haitian Bridge Alliance has long enjoyed respectful engagement with the Vatican, particularly on matters of migration, racial justice, and human rights. We look forward to building upon this foundation under Pope Leo XIV’s leadership and working together to amplify the voices of the marginalized.

In the United States,  Haitian communities face targeted deportations, inhumane detention conditions,  and the looming threat of policies designed to criminalize migration and suppress cultural identity. Most recently, the Trump administration has pushed for policies that sever family ties, and restrict asylum  protections. While this administration has issued executive actions effectively dismantling asylum protections for countless Black migrants fleeing violence and persecution, it has simultaneously opened pathways  for White Afrikaners from South Africa—under the unsubstantiated claim of  discrimination and persecution. The contrast in policy priorities reveals a troubling pattern about who is deemed worthy of protection and belonging in these United State

Now more than ever, the global Church must stand with the displaced, the disenfranchised, and the disregarded. We are hopeful that Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be marked by prophetic advocacy, radical inclusion, and a deep commitment to the dignity of every human being.

ABOUT HAITIAN BRIDGE ALLIANCE

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as “The Bridge”, is a grassroots community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies, foreign policy, and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black migrants, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses. HBA also seeks to elevate the issues unique to Black migrants and builds solidarity and collective movement toward policy change. Anpil men chay pa lou (“Many hands make the load light”). Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn –  @haitianbridge