May 23, 2024

Contact: Paige Censale, [email protected], [email protected]

San Diego, California— The Haitian Bridge Alliance, has sent a formal letter to the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) of the Republic of Haiti, strongly urging the rejection of deportation flights from the United States. The appeal comes in response to escalating insecurity and severe humanitarian crises within the country.

In the letter, Haitian Bridge Alliance highlights the need for bold initiatives, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast resolve to uphold the values of democracy and justice by TPC. The letter further notes that due to the insecurity and the humanitarian crisis, many Haitian nationals have fled to the United States seeking safety, as allowed under international law. Unfortunately, although the Biden-Harris administration has designated Haiti as a level 4, do not travel, on March 10, U.S. Marines flew helicopters into Port-au-Prince in the middle of the night to airlift non-essential embassy personnel and to bolster embassy security, Just last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that crises in Haiti had created “an untenable situation” for Haitian people. Yet, today, he and his colleagues, as recent as May 16, 2024, authorized a deportation flight to Haiti, despite the glaring lack of safety there.

The current conditions in Haiti make it unequivocally clear that deportation flights must be halted,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of Haitian Bridge Alliance. “Returning individuals to a country that cannot ensure their safety and well-being is both inhumane and irresponsible by the Biden-Harris Administration. We urge the Transitional Presidential Council to take a strong stand against these deportations to protect and prioritize the lives of Haitian nationals.”

The letter further states that it is vital to recognize that Haiti is under no obligation to accept such flights, especially considering the current insecurity challenges facing the nation. Moreover, Haiti lacks the necessary resources and infrastructure to ensure the security and well-being of its own citizens, let alone those being deported. TPC should take a principled stance in safeguarding the interests and rights of our citizens. By refusing deportation flights, the council would demonstrate a commitment to upholding human rights and prioritizing the welfare of the Haitian people.

Last month, our organization Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) and over 450 immigration, human rights, faith-based, and civil rights organizations sent a letter to the Biden administration urging the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and a moratorium on deportations. The Biden administration must immediately cease deportation flights to Haiti. By accepting these deportations flights, the state of Haiti would be knowingly condemning the most vulnerable due to imminent danger. Deportations to Haiti from the United States are intentional violence and blatant anti-Black discrimination.