December 19, 2024

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San Diego, CA – The Haitian Bridge Alliance strongly condemns the Biden-Harris Administration for its blatant violation of international and domestic laws through the continued deportation of asylum seekers to the Republic of Haiti. On December 19, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security deported Haitian nationals who were seeking asylum. These actions undermine the United States’ long-standing commitment to human rights, due process, and international obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1980 Refugee Act.

The recent wave of deportations, including vulnerable Haitian families fleeing violence, persecution, and immense violence, demonstrates a disturbing disregard for legal protections guaranteed to asylum seekers under U.S. and international law. In Haiti, more than 700,000 Haitians have been displaced due to gang violence and more than 4,000 have been murdered. For the past several years, the United States Department of State has designated the country as a level 4- do not travel destination due to extreme violence. Furthermore, the U.S. has evacuated most of its personnel, including U.S. citizens from the country. The violence has been so severe that on December 9, 2024, American Airlines announced that it had indefinitely suspended all flights to Haiti. Deporting individuals to countries in turmoil, such as Haiti, where political violence, insecurity, and humanitarian crises prevail, contravenes the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where their lives or freedom would be threatened.

“It is unconscionable that the Biden-Harris Administration, which claims to represent the ‘soul of America,’ is sending Haitian asylum seekers back to Haiti, effectively condemning them to a death sentence,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “This Administration has repeatedly failed to uphold its moral and legal obligations. By perpetuating anti-Black immigrant policies, particularly against asylum seekers of African descent, the Administration continues to violate both domestic and international laws. Haitian asylum seekers, fleeing unimaginable violence, have a lawful right to seek protection. Deporting them back to danger is not only cruel and racist—it is a blatant violation of the law.”

Haitian Bridge Alliance wishes to reiterate its plea for the Biden-Harris Administration to:

Immediately halt deportations: Cease the removal of Haitian nationals and other vulnerable populations until a fair and humane asylum process is reinstated.
Uphold the law: Restore access to asylum and comply with domestic and international legal obligations.

Haitian Bridge Alliance also urges the United States Congress, in particular, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Progressive Caucus, and the Haiti Caucus, to exercise its oversight authority and hold the administration accountable for its failure to adhere to the Refugee Act of 1980, which codifies the United States’ obligations to protect asylum seekers.

Haitian Bridge Alliance reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights and dignity of all asylum seekers, particularly those of African descent and calls on all human rights groups and the public to stand against these violations of human rights. Together, we must demand that the United States live up to its promise and legal obligation as a safe haven for those fleeing persecution and violence.