Human Rights Watch Urges Halt to Haiti Deportations

A report released Monday by Human Rights Watch details the hardships of more than 470 people deported from the United States to Haiti since July. The organization alleges that the U.S. government returned individuals—including some with pending asylum claims or former Temporary Protected Status—to a country suffering from acute malnutrition and surging gang violence.

Because armed gangs control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince, deportation flights now land in Cap-Haitien. Mayor Michel Saint-Croix reports that the city's population has tripled to over 1 million due to these arrivals and internal displacement. Migration officials from the Government of Haiti indicate the U.S. plans to maintain a schedule of up to two deportation flights per week.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied allegations of poor detention conditions and lack of legal counsel, stating that some deportees were removed for crimes including sexual offenses and drug possession. Human Rights Watch maintains that Haiti lacks the capacity to protect returnees and has called for an immediate end to the removals.