The United States deported more than 50 individuals to Haiti this week, including a professional boxer who stated he had resided in the U.S. for over two decades. The flight landed in Cap-Haitien, a city in northern Haiti, as the primary airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, is currently deemed too dangerous for operations.
This marks the second deportation flight to Haiti in recent weeks. The previous flight, which departed on August 20, carried more than 160 people. These deportations follow the end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. The TPS designation was initially granted to Haitians following the devastating 2010 earthquake and was extended multiple times.
The increase in deportations comes as Haiti grapples with a severe security crisis, exacerbated by powerful and violent gangs that have significantly disrupted life in the capital. Recent reports indicate that a gang attack in Haiti has resulted in at least 47 deaths, further contributing to the instability that has made the capital inaccessible for routine international flights. The decision to divert the deportation flight to Cap-Haitien highlights the precarious security situation in Port-au-Prince.