An advocate for Haitian rights has condemned the treatment of Haitian immigrants in the United States, highlighting recent events that illustrate a broader trend of dehumanization. The call for respect and dignity follows a series of troubling incidents involving Haitian individuals as the U.S. government grapples with immigration policy.
The advocate, who has a long history of engagement with Haiti, expressed shock over the actions and rhetoric of U.S. officials, particularly in light of a violent attack that occurred in late August. In Kenscoff, a community near Port-au-Prince, armed assailants killed at least 47 people, including five children. This incident provoked fear among Haitian communities domestically and abroad, particularly as more than 300,000 Haitians face the loss of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The U.S. State Department has acknowledged a national emergency in Haiti and has issued advisories against travel to the country, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains that conditions in Haiti are safe for return.
Just days after the Kenscoff attack, DHS posted a controversial video on social media that depicted deported Haitian individuals in shackles boarding a plane bound for Haiti. The video, set to upbeat Haitian music, sparked outrage within the Haitian community. Adding to the distress, Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old honors student at Wright State University, died by suicide shortly after he was subjected to immigration enforcement that included wearing an ankle monitor due to TPS issues.
In a poignant statement before his death, Bel reflected on the shame and humiliation he felt as an immigrant in the U.S., saying, “I came to this country to pursue my education. I didn’t come here to commit a crime or hurt anyone.” Just three days after his passing, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin shared a photo on social media that continues to evoke pain for many, showing deportees heading to an aircraft.
The advocate firmly stated that the U.S. government must not dehumanize Haitian people. Reminding readers of Haiti’s history as the first free Black republic, the advocate questioned whether government officials recognize the significance of state violence against Haitian immigrants, noting the troubling attitudes that have historically influenced American-Haitian relations.
The advocate’s personal connection to Haiti runs deep, having initially traveled there in 2010 after the earthquake to volunteer. They adopted two Haitian sons, who are now thriving in their respective educational and professional pursuits. Despite their accomplishments, the advocate worries about how their sons might interpret the cruelty displayed in government practices toward Haitian people.
Martin Luther King Jr. once remarked that “the salvation of the world lies in the hands of the maladjusted.” The advocate expressed urgency in ensuring that the U.S. government refrains from promoting a narrative that diminishes the humanity of Haitian neighbors. The plea is both a warning about the implications of such treatment and a call to affirm the dignity of all people.
