Over 50 individuals were deported from the United States to Haiti, arriving in Cap-Haïtien as the Caribbean nation grapples with severe gang violence and widespread insecurity.
Among those on the deportation flight was Jay Dabelus, a professional boxer born in the Bahamas, who had never resided in Haiti prior to being sent there. He stated:
“I just arrived in Haiti, and I don’t really know anything about this place. I was born in the Bahamas and lived in the U.S. for over 20 years,” Dabelus remarked.
He shared that he had left the Bahamas as a child, spending more than two decades in the United States before being detained and deported to Haiti. Now in a country that feels foreign to him, Dabelus expressed having no family or resources to rely upon.
“Here I am in Haiti; it’s nice, but I need to move forward. Without resources or family to support me, I’m figuring out my next steps,” he added.
Deportees Land in Cap-Haïtien
Haiti’s National Office of Migration reported that more than 50 people were deported on this flight, including two minors. The flight landed in Cap-Haïtien rather than the capital, Port-au-Prince, due to heightened danger at the main airport amidst increasing gang violence.
This deportation follows a recent gang attack in Haiti that reportedly resulted in 47 deaths and over 50 kidnappings, highlighting the country’s severe security challenges.
U.S. Deportation Flights Following TPS Changes
Thursday marked the second U.S. deportation flight to Haiti since the changes to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 350,000 Haitians in the United States. The first flight in August carried over 160 deportees. The return of deportees has sparked concerns over their safety and well-being as they re-enter a country facing serious security and humanitarian issues.
Some deportees reportedly hid their faces upon arrival, reflecting fears for their safety and apprehension about being identified in a nation where armed gangs hold significant sway.
For individuals like Dabelus, deportation presents an additional hurdle: starting anew in a land with which they are largely unfamiliar. As Haiti continues to contend with extreme violence, political unrest, and humanitarian difficulties, the return of deported individuals is likely to remain a heated debate within U.S. immigration policy discussions.
