December 1, 2023
Contact: Paola Luisi, pluisi@haitianbridge.org

San Diego, California – Haitian Bridge Alliance expresses deep concern and condemnation over the recent deportation of Mr. Guy Philippe, an action that shocks the conscience, especially given the current context in Haiti.

Guerline Jozef, Founder of Haitian Bridge Alliance released the following statement: 

“The decision to repatriate Mr. Philippe is an indicative of the United States’ apparent hypocrisy and its direct and indirect complicity in contributing to the ongoing destabilization of the island. Jozef emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to immigration policies, especially considering the insecurity challenges faced by Haiti. This deportation and many others take place amidst the Biden administration’s support for Kenya’s armed force deployment to Haiti, ostensibly to address the gang crisis. Jozef points out that this stance appears contradictory to the U.S. government’s narrative. Such actions, in her view, run the risk of exacerbating Haiti’s instability, highlighting the persistent impact of failed U.S. foreign policy toward the island and its people.”

Mr. Guy Philipe, a former coup leader, played a key role in the 2004 rebellion against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, establishing influential connections with police, politicians, and business elites. Following his involvement, Mr. Philippe faced legal consequences, serving more than six years in prison in the United States for money laundering.

Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) urgently implores the Biden-Harris Administration to immediately cease the repatriation of Haitian nationals to the Republic of Haiti due to the ongoing violence and insecurity plaguing the country. The Department of State ordered the departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees from Haiti, signifying the heightened risks associated with remaining in the country. Yet, on Thursday, November 30, 2023, the Biden administration once again a deportation flights to the island. This decision is deeply troubling given the dire circumstances currently afflicting Haiti.

Furthermore, The U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory to the country, citing alarming rates of kidnapping, escalating crime, civil unrest, and a crumbling healthcare infrastructure. These circumstances underscore the urgency of the situation on the ground.

The recent extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the Biden administration, is further proof that the administration recognizes the dire conditions in Haiti. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently announced that close to 300 kidnappings have been reported in the country in the first six months of the country. Over the past year, the United Nations has been working with international partners to provide security assistance to the nation at the request of the De Facto Prime Minister, Ariel Henry. 

HBA stands united in its impassioned plea for the administration to take immediate action to halt deportations to Haiti. Protecting the civil liberties of all people, including those seeking a better life in the United States due to unimaginable violence in their home country, is a core tenant of our nation’s democracy. HBA requests that the administration act expeditiously and take measures to correct decades of discriminatory treatment towards Haitians and Black asylum seekers/migrants.