Amid Violence, Mass. Cong. Delegation Pushes for More Migrant Support

Above. flaming tires seen, in the streets of Hinche in the center of Haiti, part of years of escalating violence. (Voice of America image from 2019)

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 67 lawmakers in urging the Department of Homeland Security Secretary and Department of State to immediately redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which would authorize Haitian nationals in the United States to remain in the country until conditions improve in Haiti. The lawmakers also called on the Biden administration to pause all deportation flights to Haiti until conditions improve.

Armed gangs control most of Haiti’s territory, including the capital city of Port-au-Prince, exposing those in Haiti to human rights abuses such as killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence. Since Prime Minister Ariel Henry has announced his resignation after facing immense public pressure, the country will continue to experience instability exacerbated by armed gangs, as an interim leader facilitates elections.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “Both of these steps are necessary to ensure that the United States does not return Haitian nationals to a government incapable of protecting its citizens — often subjecting them to repression and violence — and gangs that brutally victimize residents and operate without restrictions. Because of the quickly worsening gang violence in Haiti, the uncertain political future following Prime Minister Henry’s resignation announcement, the lack of accountability for human rights violations, and the current government’s abuses, we urge you to extend and redesignate TPS for Haiti and use your discretion to halt deportation flights to the country. These actions will prevent further suffering and unnecessary loss of life.”

Cosigners in the House include Representatives Alma Adams, Troy Carter, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Nydia Velazquez, Rashida Tlaib, Delia Ramirez, Maxine Waters, Donald Payne Jr., Frederica Wilson, Pramila Jayapal, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Robert Garcia, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jan Schakowsky, Barbara Lee, Maxwell Alejandro Frost, Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, Cori Bush, Lois Frankel, David Trone, James P. McGovern, Nikema Williams, Adriano Espaillat, Lauren Underwood, Dina Titus, Darren Soto, Seth Moulton, Grace Meng, Gabe Amo, Marc Veasey, William R. Keating, Dan Goldman, Donald Beyer, Ro Khanna, Jamaal Bowman, Tony Cardenas, Veronica Escobar, Greg Casar, Bennie Thompson, Andy Kim, Juan Vargas, Debbie Dingell, Marcy Kaptur, and Sheila Jackson Lee.

Cosigners in the Senate include Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

As Representative for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District, Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country, with approximately 46,000 Haitians and Haitian-Americans living across the state and over half in the Boston metropolitan area. Additionally, Massachusetts is home to more than 4,700 Haitians with Temporary Protected Status.