A plane specially chartered by the U.S. authorities landed at 1:30 PM at Cap-Haïtien International Airport with 111 Haitian migrants repatriated from the United States on board.
A plane specially chartered by the U.S. authorities landed at 1:30 PM at Cap-Haïtien International Airport carrying 111 Haitian migrants repatriated from the United States. The operation comes amid a tightening of U.S. immigration policy, which could lead to a significant increase in the deportation of Haitian nationals in the coming weeks.
As they got off the plane, the repatriates left one by one, wearing white jumpsuits and black sneakers, under the watch of National Police of Haiti (PNH) officers deployed on the tarmac to ensure the operation went smoothly. A pregnant woman was among those repatriatedTeams from the National Migration Office (ONM) were on hand to welcome the nationals as soon as they arrived. Its General Coordinator, Jean Négot Bonheur Delva, explained that the repatriated individuals had varied backgrounds. Some had lost their legal status after their U.S. residence permits expired, while others were sent back after serving a prison sentence or following legal proceedings..According to the head of the ONM, the U.S. authorities informed the institution that around 250 Haitian migrants could be sent back each week, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ending the legal status of many beneficiaries of the Temporary Protected Status program. He estimates that about 350,000 Haitians are affected by this measure, which could bring the number of returnees to nearly 1,000 people per month.
“Our mission is to welcome returnees with dignity, with the support of the Haitian government. It’s important to remember that these returns are not at the request of the Haitian government, but come from a decision by the U.S. authorities,” said Jean Négot Bonheur Delva.The ONM’s general coordinator also acknowledged that returning people will have to face a national context marked by insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to support returnees from the moment they arrive in the country.
To make their reintegration easier, the ONM has set up an assistance system that includes a helicopter for those traveling to the departments of the South and Grand’Anse, as well as a partnership with a land transport company for returnees heading to Port-au-Prince. Each beneficiary also receives financial aid of 10,000 gourdes to cover the initial expenses related to their return.In light of the new directions in US migration policy, Haitian authorities expect a gradual increase in repatriation flights, making the reception and support of migrants an increasingly significant humanitarian and logistical challenge.
