(Dec. 29, 2010)

The Post-Deportation Human Rights Project at Boston College is gravely concerned about the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announcement that it will resume deportations to Haiti of certain individuals.  Deportations to Haiti were halted following the January 2010 earthquake that devastated the nation, killed more than 230,000 people, displaced 2.3 million people, and ravaged the country’s infrastructure.  Over 1.5 million people remain homeless in Haiti, and many continue to live in tents in makeshift camps.  The country has also recently been gripped by a cholera outbreak that has already killed thousands of people and infected many more. 

In the wake of the earthquake, the U.S. government properly recognized the humanitarian crisis and halted deportations to Haiti and granted Temporary Protected Status to Haitians already in the United States.  This was a humanitarian and pragmatic measure meant to prevent deportations to a country unable to handle the return of its nationals.   ICE, however, announced earlier this month that it planned on resuming deportations of Haitians with criminal convictions.  Advocates report that about 100 Haitians were recently detained and jailed in preparation for deportation to Haiti. 

Forcibly removing such individuals to Haiti in light of the worsening conditions is an appalling demonstration of poor judgment.  Haiti is no better able now to handle deportees than it was a year ago.  In fact, the situation is in some ways worse.  Thus, for both humanitarian and practical reasons, the Post-Deportation Human Rights Project calls on Immigration and Customs Enforcement to put an immediate stop to all deportations to Haiti.