The United Nations Special Representative for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, expressed growing concerns regarding the potential for the United States to escalate deportations of Haitian migrants.
In a recent interview, Salvador highlighted significant human rights implications tied to this issue, stating, “There is real fear that deportation from the US to Haiti will increase, forcing people back into extremely precarious and unsafe conditions.”
Currently, an estimated 700,000 Haitians reside in the United States, with substantial communities located in Florida and Massachusetts, including cities like Springfield.
Amid the ongoing 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump faced backlash for making derogatory remarks about Haitian immigrants.
Salvador noted that Haiti remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, long plagued by persistent political instability and security crises.
Violence in Haiti has surged sharply since early 2023, with reports indicating over 5,600 fatalities and more than one million people internally displaced, according to UN data.
The escalating violence is largely attributed to confrontations involving criminal gangs and the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) led by Kenya.
Adding to the concerns, Salvador pointed out discussions within the US government regarding potentially designating Haitian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
She cautioned that such a classification could lead to wrongful stigmatization of large Haitian communities in the US.
Salvador stressed that the term “terrorist” remains undefined under international law, allowing for dangerously broad interpretations that could infringe on human rights.
The Special Representative criticized reductions in humanitarian budgets by the US and other Western nations, which have significantly hindered operations of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and other UN agencies in the country.
Salvador insisted that restoring security in Haiti is paramount before any effective political or humanitarian initiatives can be pursued.
She stated, “The number one priority is restoring security, even ahead of organizing elections or expanding humanitarian aid,” expressing skepticism about the likelihood of presidential elections, tentatively scheduled for February, occurring on time.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres had proposed two months prior that the UN increase its logistical and financial support for the MSS, which has only managed to deploy around 1,000 of the 2,500 personnel it promised.
This recommendation relies on contributions from UN member states to fund essential operations.
Salvador called for the UN Security Council to act rapidly in adopting Guterres’s proposal, issuing a stark warning that without immediate action, the situation in Haiti will continue to worsen.
However, she admitted that progress within the Security Council has been sluggish, saying, “Unfortunately, progress has stalled.”
She also noted that the US and Panama are drafting a resolution, but enthusiasm among member states seems low, with some countries poised to oppose measures perceived to be led by the US.
The current mandate for BINUH is set to expire in July.
Due to escalating violence, the mission recently evacuated 70 out of 87 staff members, who are now operating remotely from neighboring countries.
Salvador warned that if conditions do not improve, criminal gangs could control as much as 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, by year-end, and that over half of Haiti’s population could face food insecurity by June, according to UN estimates.
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