Federal agents in Miami have detained Pierre Réginald Boulos, a notable Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful. The arrest took place late last week at Boulos’ residence in South Florida, according to a source familiar with the situation.
Boulos, who was born in the United States, renounced his citizenship in order to run for president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained U.S. residency last year under the Biden administration.
Boulos has faced several corruption allegations in the past, which he has consistently denied. His arrest marks a significant moment as he is among the most recognized Haitians taken into custody by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As of now, the specific reasons for his arrest remain unclear, and ICE has not responded to inquiries for further details.
An attorney representing Boulos was not immediately available for comment. Following the arrest, Boulos is being held at the Krome North Service Processing Center, a detention facility in Miami noted by Human Rights Watch in a recent report for being excessively over capacity and violating international human rights standards.
In Haiti, Boulos founded numerous businesses and served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2019, he established the Third Way Movement, a political party aimed at countering what he described as “shameless elite and unscrupulous politicians” whose actions were hampering the nation and exacerbating the suffering of its citizens.
During its formation, Boulos’ political party announced its objective to pursue a “historic political compromise” that would facilitate the negotiation for the departure of then-President Jovenel Moïse from power. Boulos actively campaigned in Haiti’s central region in August 2019, expressing a determination to dismantle the existing system, stating, “I am part of the system that must be destroyed.”
Jovenel Moïse held the presidency from 2017 until his assassination at his private residence in July 2021. Following his death, a number of suspects were apprehended, including seventeen former Colombian soldiers currently under investigation by Haitian authorities.
Court documents have indicated that figures such as Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor and doctor who envisioned himself as Haiti’s leader, were connected to the conspiracy. Since Moïse’s assassination, elections have not been conducted, resulting in a surge of gang violence amid the ensuing political void. Subsequently, Boulos returned to the United States.
This arrest comes as the Trump administration pursues the termination of legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians, including those who arrived in the U.S. through a humanitarian parole program. Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American candidate running for U.S. Congress, expressed concerns regarding deportations, emphasizing the difference between targeting criminals and deporting individuals seeking better lives. “If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,” Joseph remarked. “But if you deport someone who doesn’t commit any crime who’s here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.”
image source from：wsvn
