More than 100 Haitian nationals who were in the United States illegally and had been convicted of crimes have been deported to Haiti as the Trump administration continues its immigration enforcement efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) carried out the deportation flight on July 16, returning individuals the agency said had been convicted of offenses including child sexual abuse, carjacking, drug trafficking, and fraud.
“Last week, ICE deported pedophiles, carjackers, drug traffickers and perpetrators of fraud to Haiti,” Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis said in a statement.
“Criminal illegal aliens have NO place in American communities. Our message to illegal aliens is clear: LEAVE NOW. If you don’t, we will find you and deport you.”
The flight comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last month that Haitian nationals who had received Temporary Protected Status (TPS) could not rely on federal courts to block the administration from ending those protections and returning them to Haiti. Approximately 520,000 Haitians currently reside in the United States under the TPS program.
While deportations continue, the United States is also backing international efforts to stabilize Haiti, where armed gangs control large portions of the country and violence remains widespread.
Speaking before the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the United States is supporting efforts to restore security and reduce the influence of criminal gangs. Among those efforts, he said, is working to prevent gangs from using social media to intimidate residents and recruit children.
Waltz described the online content circulated by the gangs as “incredibly disturbing,” although he did not provide details about the specific actions the United States intends to take.
He also called on other nations to assist the U.N.-backed multinational security mission by helping transport additional troops to Haiti and providing resources needed to confront heavily armed gangs.
To illustrate the severity of the violence, Waltz referenced a recent attack in which Haitian police officers were ambushed after their armored vehicle became stuck in a ditch.
According to Waltz, gang members set the vehicle on fire, forcing the officers to flee before they were captured and killed.
“They were flayed alive on the streets,” Waltz said, adding that the officers’ bodies were later displayed on the burned-out vehicle.
“I want everyone to understand the fight ahead,” he said.
Jack Christofides, the special representative for the U.N.-backed security mission, said international forces have begun what is expected to be a prolonged campaign against the gangs.
“The political and humanitarian environment nevertheless remains extremely challenging,” Christofides said. “Armed gangs are likely to adapt their tactics to stay in control.”
Waltz also emphasized the need for additional equipment, including heavy bulldozers, to remove barricades and clear areas under gang control.
“Haiti’s just a few hundred miles from Florida,” Waltz said, according to the Associated Press. “In that regard, it’s a critical interest to the United States.”
