First Group of Over 150 Haitians Deported from U.S. Arrive in Haiti

More than 150 Haitians were deported to their home country from the United States on Thursday, representing the first group to be sent back following the U.S. administration's decision not to renew Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 300,000 Haitians.

A source from the Haitian Chancellery confirmed to EFE that the group arrived on a charter flight operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Cabo Haitiano, located in the country's north. Haiti's main airport, Toussaint Louverture in Port-au-Prince, remains non-operational due to the ongoing siege by powerful armed gangs controlling much of the capital.

Immigration and Haitian Police authorities received the deportees in Cabo Haitiano. This action follows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) decision in late July to terminate TPS for over 300,000 Haitian citizens. The termination was influenced by a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Trump administration's policy, which argued that conditions in Haiti had improved sufficiently for safe return, despite the pervasive gang activity.

Haiti is currently experiencing a severe crisis across most sectors, primarily driven by insecurity stemming from armed gangs. Thousands of Haitians have been displaced, and many face hunger. The nation, the poorest in the Americas, has grappled with profound instability for years, particularly concerning high levels of violence. According to UN data, violence in Haiti resulted in at least 2,310 deaths and 1,106 injuries in the first five months of the year, with armed gangs dominating nearly 90% of the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.