‘Catastrophic’: US worries Haiti crisis could exacerbate migration

Lawmakers are warning a “catastrophic situation” in Haiti may worsen the migrant crisis as a loose alliance of armed gangs threaten to seize control of the nation, where the acting leader is missing. Gang violence has plagued the Caribbean nation for more than two years since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. But the crisis has escalated in recent days, when armed gangs overran two of Haiti’s biggest prisons, released thousands of inmates and tried to take control of the country’s main airport. The Biden administration, which has for months tried to rally international support for the besieged country, is increasingly alarmed. In the past two days alone, White House and State Department officials have repeatedly expressed “grave concern” over the situation at press conferences. If the Haitian government falls, lawmakers worry that the ripple effect could cause a major migration crisis for the region. “It’s a catastrophic situation,” Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, told POLITICO. “The instability of one country impacts all the countries around it.” The Dominican Republic has already closed its borders, Clarke said. The U.S and Caribbean nations will bear the brunt of “those who are just trying to survive in the midst of what’s taking place,” she added. The growing crisis in Haiti comes amid concerns from Congress about migrants at the United States’ southern border, an issue which has caused U.S. aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine to stall as Republicans seek immigration reforms. As of last summer, tens of thousands of people have fled Haiti for the United States, according to the Migration Policy Institute think tank. Despite concerns from the White House, Washington’s efforts to assist Haiti have yet yielded few results. A U.S.-led push through the United Nations and other channels appeared to offer a breakthrough last year when Kenya agreed to lead an international police force of 1,000 officers to combat Haiti’s gang violence. But Nairobi’s high court delayed the deployment. Haiti’s de facto leader, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, went to Kenya to resolve the impasse, but his current whereabouts are now unknown. The roughly 9,000 Haitian police officers providing security for more than 11 million people are often overwhelmed and outgunned, according to the United Nations. “Haiti’s National Police may only last another week or so in fighting off the gangs,” said Eddy Acevedo, the chief of staff at think tank Wilson Center, who has been closely following the situation. Automate Client Onboarding with LollyLaw SPONSORED BY LOLLYLAW Streamline client intake, virtually collaborate with clients, and automate form population with LollyLaw 🤝🏽 LollyLaw offers the #1 rated practice management solution for immigration law firms so you can run your business from a single platform. See More The Biden administration has said it won’t commit troops to any multinational force for Haiti, instead offering money and logistical support. American officials have been in close contact with the Haitian government to help stabilize the situation, Miller said. “We are urgently mobilizing all support we and the international community can immediately provide Haiti, especially to the Haitian National Police, to ensure they are able to restore security for the sake of the people,” a National Security Council spokesperson, granted anonymity to speak candidly about U.S. policy, told POLITICO. It’s possible Haitians wouldn’t welcome more help from Washington. Haitian human rights advocates remain leery about the possibility of U.S. intervention after the U.S. invasion and nearly two-decade occupation of the island after President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam was assassinated in 1915. Despite the history, the U.S. should work more with other Caribbean nations to help Haiti set up a democratic government with free and fair elections, Clarke said. She added that the U.S. also needs to do more to cut off the flow of illegal arms to Haiti. “That’s becoming more and more of a challenge with … the anarchistic environment that has been created and allowed to flourish,” she said. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who co-chairs the Haiti Caucus with Clarke, told POLITICO that the U.S. must “prioritize the establishment of a representative transitional government in Haiti, and provide urgent humanitarian relief.” Last month, a group of Democratic senators urged Henry to take concrete steps to begin rebuilding the country’s government by holding elections. But with the prime minister nowhere to be found, the country’s governance is extremely precarious. The Gazette Haiti newspaper reported Tuesday that Guy Philippe, who led a coup in 2004 and spent time in U.S. prison on money laundering charges, would try to install himself as president and spearhead a transitional government. Gang chiefs such as Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier also say they want to topple Henry. “Without definitive action now, it is a real tragic possibility that Haiti falls to gangs soon,” Acevedo said. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.