Pierre Réginald Boulos, a prominent Haitian businessman and physician who once aspired to the presidency of Haiti, has been arrested by U.S. immigration agents in Florida.
The arrest took place last week at his residence in South Florida, where he is accused of allegedly supporting violent gangs in Haiti, groups that have been classified as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Boulos is believed to be engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that has contributed to the destabilization of Haiti.
Born in the United States, Boulos renounced his citizenship to run for president in Haiti in recent years.
He regained his U.S. residency last year under the administration of President Joe Biden, but his legal status is now at risk due to the allegations against him.
Boulos has previously denied various corruption allegations that have surfaced over the years.
His arrest marks a significant development in an immigration crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump, targeting individuals involved in illicit activities abroad.
ICE has highlighted that Boulos failed to disclose his involvement in forming a political party in Haiti or that he had been referred for prosecution by the Haitian government for misuse of loans in his residency application.
The agency also noted that the U.S. Department of State has identified certain individuals holding lawful permanent resident status who have collaborated with Haitian gang leaders, specifically linked to Viv Ansanm, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
ICE emphasized that the U.S. government will not permit individuals to enjoy the advantages of legal status while facilitating violent organizations or supporting terrorist groups overseas.
Currently, Boulos is being detained at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a facility which Human Rights Watch has described as grossly over capacity and in violation of international human rights standards.
Boulos has a history of business ventures in Haiti and previously served as the president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In 2019, he founded the Third Way Movement, a political party established to counteract what he referred to as the “shameless elite and unscrupulous politicians” hindering progress in Haiti.
The party aimed to negotiate a political compromise for the exit of former President Jovenel Moïse from power.
Boulos had publicly declared his intent to dismantle systemic issues in Haiti, stating, “I am part of the system that must be destroyed.”
Moïse held the presidency from 2017 until his assassination in July 2021, which led to a surge in gang violence amidst a political vacuum.
Following the assassination, Boulos returned to the U.S. as political turbulence in Haiti escalated.
This arrest is part of the broader context of the Trump administration’s efforts to rescind legal protections for thousands of Haitian immigrants.
In recent announcements, the administration has moved to revoke protections for Haitians who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program.
Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American who is campaigning for a Congressional seat, expressed concern over potential deportations targeting individuals without criminal records.
He stated that while there is no opposition to targeting criminals, it becomes problematic when individuals seeking a better life are deported unlawfully.
The situation surrounding Boulos’s arrest further complicates the ongoing immigration landscape and the U.S.’s relationship with Haitian nationals.
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