Haitian nationals attempting to illegally enter the United States by sea crossing face immediate repatriation back to their home country, according to a new warning shared by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In a statement shared with NTD on March 15, the DHS stated that it remains watchful for heightened numbers of individuals attempting to make their way to the United States by boat. This heightened attention to crossing to the United States by sea comes amid widespread unrest in the Caribbean island nation of Haiti, where an alliance of armed gangs and revolutionaries have clashed with the country’s existing government.
“At this time, irregular migration flows through the Caribbean remain low,” the DHS spokesperson told NTD, a sister outlet of The Epoch Times.
Still, the department is reiterating warnings against attempted sea crossings.
“All irregular migration journeys, especially maritime routes, are extremely dangerous, unforgiving, and often result in loss of life,” the DHS official said. “DHS will continue to enforce U.S. laws and policy throughout the Florida Straits and the Caribbean region.”
The DHS spokesperson said their current policy is to return noncitizens who don’t demonstrate a fear of persecution or torture or a legal basis to enter the United States.
“Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to our longstanding policy and procedures,” the DHS spokesperson said.
NTD asked follow-up questions about the standards the DHS uses to determine whether those interdicted at sea have a legal basis or credible fear that warrants U.S. entry. The DHS spokesperson did not provide a direct response to these questions.
The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous reportedly repatriated 65 Haitian nationals just this week. The Coast Guard stated that this repatriation effort came after a March 7 at-sea interdiction. A good samaritan reportedly alerted watchstanders with the Coast Guard’s Miami-based 7th District, which subsequently dispatched the Cutter Venturous to intercept a distressed vessel operating near the Bahamian island of Great Inagua, about 50 miles north of Haiti.
The official Coast Guard effort to block illegal immigration by sea is known as Operation Vigilant Sentry.
Unrest in Haiti
Haiti has seen decades of social and political unrest. Haitian President François Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier retained power throughout the country from 1957 to 1986; a period in which they were widely and consistently accused of political repression and in which elections were widely regarded as sham proceedings.While Haiti has made efforts toward political reform, concerns of corruption and violence have continued beyond the Duvalier era. Following a coup, the country endured a period of military rule under Lt. Gen. Joseph Raoul Cédras from 1991 to 1994.
U.N. Peacekeeping efforts were launched in the country throughout the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s.
Haiti saw another violent revolt and change of power in 2004. The country also endured a devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake in 2010, with death toll estimates as high as 220,000 following the natural disaster and its aftermath.
Throughout Mr. Henry’s leadership tenure, Haiti has seen a low-level multifactional conflict between Haitian government forces, an alliance of street gangs and armed groups known as Fòs Revolisyonè G9 an Fanmi e Alye (the “Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies” or G9), and another alliance of street gangs and armed groups known as GPep.
In recent weeks, gunmen claiming loyalty to G9 stormed two of Haiti’s largest prisons, freeing hundreds of inmates.
While Mr. Henry made a state visit to Kenya, G9 loyalists fired at the country’s main airport. G9 leader Jimmy Cherizier has said that the airport attack is meant to block Mr. Henry’s return to the country.
On March 17, the U.S. Embassy in Haiti began advising Americans in the country to leave and began evacuating some of its own personnel. The U.S. military has deployed additional security forces, including a U.S. Marine Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team to bolster the embassy’s defenses.
