Haitian refugee crisis made in the USA, border patrol agents whip migrants

Border-Patrol-agents-whipping-Haitian-migrants-with-horse-reins-by-Paul-Ratje-092021, Haitian refugee crisis made in the USA, border patrol agents whip migrants, World News & Views
On Sept. 20, footage of border patrol agents corralling Haitian migrants using their reins as whips and grabbing people by their collars as they fled – the same way slave patrols would brutalize slaves. It doesn’t matter who’s in power in Amerikka: What has begun could be one of America’s largest-scale deportation sprees in decades. – Photo: Paul Ratje

Stop the racist deportations

by Haiti Action Committee

Haiti Action Committee denounces the inhumane and racist deportation of Haitian refugees from the US-Mexico border, where thousands of people are living in terrible, even deadly, conditions and are being systematically deported by the Biden Administration. This is a crime.

Why are Haitians at the border in the first place? Many fled Haiti years ago as it descended into terror following the U.S.-orchestrated coup against Haiti’s democratically elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, in 2004. 

After the coup, many left the country in the wake of the disastrous UN occupation that shattered the economy and brought about a massive cholera epidemic. Many came from Brazil and Chile, where they had been recruited for low-wage labor after the earthquake of 2010 and then forced out when no longer needed.

The treatment of Haitian migrants stands in stark contrast to the treatment received by Afghan refugees.

Now, the United States government, which bears such great responsibility for this migration, is loading up plane after plane for deportation to Haiti. This takes place at a moment when a series of U.S.-backed dictatorships, imposed through rigged elections, have looted the country and weaponized death squads to attack and terrorize the population. 

Add to this the recent earthquake in Haiti, which killed over 2,200 people and left hundreds of thousands without shelter, devastating the southern peninsula of the country. Haiti does not have the capacity to absorb huge numbers of refugees, yet the Biden Administration is determined to deport thousands of people without regard to due process or to the dangers that they will face upon return.

Please contact the White House and your Congressional representatives to demand: “End the deportations immediately! Justice For Haitian refugees! White House Comment line: 202-456-1111. Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121.

Congressional Black Caucus demands accountability for treatment of Haitian migrants at Texas border

Washington, D.C. – Today, Sept. 22, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, Ohio 3rd District, led a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus members to the White House to demand accountability for the mistreatment of Haitian migrants at the Texas border. 

CBC members including Democratic Chair Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, N.Y. 8th District, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Congressman Gregory Meeks, N.Y. 5th District, Homeland Security Committee Vice Chairman Congressman Richie Torres, N.Y. 15th District, Steering and Policy Committee Co-Chair Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Calif. 13thDistrict, CBC 1st Vice Chair Congressman Steven Horsford, Nev. 4th District, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas 18th District, Congressman Troy Carter, La. 2nd District, and Co-Chair of the Haitian Caucus Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, N.Y. 9th Disrict, met with senior administration officials including Senior Advisor to the President Cedric Richmond, Domestic Policy Advisor and former UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Chief of Staff to the Vice President Tina Flournoy and National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere Juan Gonzalez. 

Stop-the-Deportations-flier-for-rally-092421-by-Haiti-Action-Committee, Haitian refugee crisis made in the USA, border patrol agents whip migrants, World News & Views

During the White House meeting, Chairwoman Beatty reiterated the call for humanitarian assistance and safe conditions for those at the border in addition to the following demands:

  • Immediately conduct a full investigation of the violence against Haitian migrants, publicly releasing the results of the investigation, and call for removal of CBP agents identified in photos on horseback brutalizing migrants. 
  • Clarify the public narrative surrounding the treatment of Haitian migrants, which stands in stark contrast to what the public witnessed regarding the treatment received by Afghan refugees. Haitian migrants are being deported under the Section 42 Public Health Order issued in March 2020, which allows the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deport migrants without any due process or opportunities to claim asylum. This process is discretionary. 
  • Ensure Haitian migrants are provided with necessities like food and water.
  • Provide a detailed breakdown regarding U.S. efforts to support repatriated Haitians, including any assistance, aid or healthcare including Covid-19 vaccinations, and/or counseling delivered.
Haitian-migrant-holding-child-over-head-crossing-Rio-Grande-by-John-Moore-092021, Haitian refugee crisis made in the USA, border patrol agents whip migrants, World News & Views
A Haitian migrant crossing back over the Rio Grande to Mexico from the US carries his baby. – Photo: John Moore

“This treatment will not be tolerated. The Congressional Black Caucus is committed to supporting Black people across the diaspora and we pledge our support to the people of Haiti,” said Beatty. “Earlier in the week, we met with Vice President Kamala Harris, who shared our outrage at the current plight of Haitian migrants. 

“We are actively monitoring developments and we are prepared to travel to the border to investigate the situation ourselves. Following today’s dialogue, we are hopeful for increased U.S. support, including development aid and logistical resources to assist with earthquake and pandemic recovery in Haiti.”

For more information, contact Congressional Black Caucus Executive Director Kyle Anderson at Kyle.Anderson@mail.house.gov.