Haiti has been in ruin for many years, largely in part to widespread corruption and political instability that has led to various gangs claiming control over the control rather than any secure government. Haiti is consistently on every humanitarian watch list with over 2.5 million residents living in extreme poverty without sufficient food, water, or shelter. The 2021 assassination of President Jovenal Moise worsened the already dire situation for the Haitian people, and the country is now in complete disrepair.
Haiti is under a state of emergency after gangs released 3,700 inmates from two separate prisons over the weekend. The attack occurred on Saturday and media outlets reported that the prison doors remained open on Sunday with no attempts to seek those who fled. The military, police force, and whatever remains of the government are all working together behind the scenes.
Former President Jovenal Moise was assassinated in 2021 when a group of men disguised as US DEA agents entered his personal residence and opened fire. An actual DEA agent later pleaded guilty to conspiring with members of Colombian and Haitian gangs to carry out the execution. Moise’s own wife faced charges for the former president’s death. Members associated with the former president’s murder are also involved in the recent jailbreak. “All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united,” said the former police officer, who is thought to be behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince, as reported by BBC.
No one has replaced Moise as president and Haiti has not had an official election since 2016. Prime Minister Ariel Henry was installed upon Moise’s assassination, claiming he would hold an official election in the near future. Henry recently visited Nairobi to broker a deal to send Kenyan multinational security forces to Haiti to reclaim the nation from the violent rogue gangs, a move that is thought to have sparked the prison riots. Henry has refused to step down despite violent protests and the gangs are willing to go to any length to retain power.
The US embassy in Port-au-Prince is warning American citizens to flee the nation immediately, while the French embassy suspended all visa services. The number one spot for fleeing Haitians is the United States of America, with 731,000 reported Haitian migrants entered the country in as of 2022. Haitians are now the 15th largest migrant population residing in America. Haitians compose the majority of migrants passing through the notorious Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia, with the number of crossings multiplying each year.
Around 15,000 Haitian migrants entered America in a five-day period in 2021. Mexico’s governor pleaded with America to curb the swell of migrants, leading to Antony Blinken announcing a $4 billion aid package that has done absolutely nothing.
Criminals are pouring in America. The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a separate entity from ICE, reported a 19.5% increase in arrests of Haitian migrants from FY23 compared to FY22. As reported on the government’s own website:
"ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with a criminal history; those arrested had an average of 4 charges and convictions per individual, including more than 33,209 charges or convictions for assault, 7,520 for weapons offenses, 1,713 for homicide-related offenses, and 1,615 for kidnapping. Removals also included 3,406 known or suspected gang members, 139 known or suspected terrorists, seven human rights violators, and 108 foreign fugitives wanted by their governments for crimes including homicide, rape, terrorism and kidnapping. Also in fiscal year 2023, ERO conducted 142,580 removals to more than 170 countries worldwide."
Biden implemented fast-track visa programs to allow Haitians to enter America, but thanks to open border policies, there is NOTHING to prevent every prison escapee, gang member, or anyone else from walking into America and claiming asylum. If Haiti were ever actually to impose law and order, the gang members could legally enter US territory and receive a free taxpayer-subsidized life. Their lives in US prisons would be a major improvement compared to their current lives in extreme poverty. This is why we see countless videos of unaccompanied military-aged men traveling alone from Haiti to America, where they can continue to commit violent crimes without prosecution.
