Haitian refugees have been forced to seek asylum from frequent natural disasters, political insecurity and government corruption since the 1960s. There is little financial and medical support for earthquake victims, furthermore, the nation fails to enforce proper safety standards on buildings. The US is home to “852,000 Haitian immigrants…more than triple [the amount from] 1990 and double the number in 2000,” (Carabota, Feb. 2024). Since the assassination of President Jovenal Moise in 2021, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has placed Haiti on a high-risk emergency watchlist (2024). Half the population has since required severe humanitarian aid, with 90% impoverished from sudden earthquakes (IRC, 2024). Despite international support efforts, namely UNICEF and the UN, many of these agencies fail to raise appropriate funds for disaster relief. Haiti’s government is influenced majorly by gang authority/affiliation, but not in the way that Latin American countries are subject to cartel influence. Those territories autonomously survive and rely on national protection, while Haitian gang members seek political or economic agendas (International Crisis Group, 2021). Citizens of Haiti are concerned about the transparency and reliability of their central government, especially since countless high-profile criminals are wrongfully pardoned and term limits are extended.

Many are also concerned about Prime Minister Ariel Henry continuing to postpone term elections, however, this issue is a double-edged sword. Despite being in a constitutional void, Haiti’s political instability may be exacerbated if elections are again rushed. Election turnout is already low and campaigns are fairly short. Citizens are also not motivated to vote when political violence, government volatility, statewide poverty, and hunger continue to weaken trust in their leaders. In 2017, Moise discontinued the UN’s Human Rights mandate, which was tasked to maintain cooperation and transparency with the government and Haitians. Furthermore, political parties tend to have an independent benefactor rather than functioning as a whole. This has made seeking asylum a necessity rather than a want.

One-third of Springfield, Ohio is home to Haitian refugees. The recent presidential debate, hosted August 2024, exemplified polarizing, modern US perspectives of Haiti (Garsd, 2024). With his hometown experiencing an economic slump, Republican JD Vance views Haitian migrants as unauthorized workers. Many locals of Springfield agree. On the contrary, sources cite that Springfield’s economy has risen since their migration, with Creole interpreters and steel workers rising to increase the town’s demand and productivity, especially after COVID-19 (Garsd, 2024). However, medical services and translators have become overwhelmed with the sudden influx of cases.

Haiti has experienced economic turmoil from “diplomatic isolation” from international leaders and their consequential “protracted impoverishment,” (International Crisis Group, 2021). This is due to failing to establish a sound democracy since their revolution against the French in 1804. Authoritative leaders have dominated Haitian politics until the 1980s. Referred to as “violence entrepreneurs,” political leaders chose to sponsor certain gangs or corrupted police forces to maintain territorial claims (such as fuel depots) and to secure votes. In exchange, they maintain their impunity (International Crisis Group, 2021). Jean-Claude Duvalier created the current constitution, but left its democracy in disarray. The 1987 constitution desired to practice separation of power alongside checks and balances, but Haiti’s constrained budget and frequent elections made it difficult for successful reformation. Along with his father’s rule, the Duvaliers managed to corrupt political networks and challenge independent powers of the government. Namely, the legislative, judiciary, and the public economy were manipulated to centralize authority within the executive.

As of today, an estimated ninety armed gangs control the capital and executive. This corruption impacts shipments, whereas emergency and essential supplies cannot be safely transported or unloaded without infiltration. On top of this, sexual violence and rape have increased as these groups rise to power, and are protected by the government. Haitians are unsettled by their government for this reason, despite a supposed reformation to occur with its constitution. Despite promises, President Moise continued to spy on citizens, grant immunity and pardon government officials, extend term limits and eliminate its safeguards, arrest those who oppose him, and remove referendums. Haitians, with their extremely limited wages and inaccessibility to vaccinations during a global pandemic, are forced to seek refuge in these conditions.

The US has not reformed immigration policy since the 1990s. Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) functioned to legalize immigrants escaping from communism within the past five years. However, it also made it punishable for business owners to hire unauthorized aliens (Chishti and Yale, 2016). In 1992, Bush responded to Cuban immigrants by enacting a temporary protective status (TPS), ensuring work authorizations to refugees. This enabled Haitians to follow behind with less pushback than during the Cold War years, where previously, only European immigrants were accepted. The US followed international standards of asylum-seeking; it is an automatic right of humanity to provide assistance. This did not, however, “eliminate the double standard” of eligible or deemed more suitable migrants (Charles, 2006). Under Regan’s administration, 91% of refugees were from within Europe or Indochina; most refugees in the Caribbean were subject to deportation, interdiction, or detention (Charles, 2006). Furthermore, in 2021, Biden interdicted and detained Haitian migrants escaping poverty, ruin, and corruption (Narea, 2021). The Biden administration claims this is to convince refugees to travel safer since sea travel is dangerous, but most believe this is to avoid authorization of TPSs and perpetuate racial exclusion.

Today is Dessalines Day, which celebrates Jean-Jacques Dessalines. He is a founding father of independence from France and the first leader of Haiti after the revolution. October 17th is the anniversary of his assassination, but Haitians use the day to commemorate his leadership, anti-slavery policies, and strong exportation economy. Consider supporting Haitians who celebrate this holiday by showing solidarity, donating to a disaster relief fund, and encouraging healthy conversations about refugee experiences. International aid is scarce, but the UN is working to have Kenya lead as a temporary intervention to political instability. It is with this hope that Haiti is able to consolidate a democracy that is transparent, caring, and held accountable for restricting political immunity. With newly invigorated efforts to restore security and combat humanitarian concerns, Haitian refugees could have more confidence in their voting power.

**Ozek, Umut, and Figlio, David, March 2018.**

If you are inspired to help, please consider supporting civil society initiatives, such as housing restoration efforts, food banks, or public/social services in Haiti. Use the following link to donate to UNICEF’s fund, or to read more about the current crisis in Haiti: Surge in Violence Fuels Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti | UNICEF USA

References:

Camarota, Steven A. “Fact Sheet on Haitian Immigrants in the United States.” CIS.Org, Center for Immigration Studies, 10 Apr. 2024, cis.org/Camarota/Fact-Sheet-Haitian-Immigrants-United-States.

Charles, Carolle. “Political Refugees or Economic Immigrants?: A New ‘Old Debate’ within the Haitian Immigrant Communities but with Contestations and Division.” Journal of American Ethnic History, vol. 25, no. 2/3, 2006, pp. 190–208. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/27501695. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.

Chishti, Muzaffar and Yale, Stephen. “Research: The Immigration Act of 1990: Unfinished.” Migration Policy Institute, 2016, https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/immigration-act-1990-still-unfinished-business-quarter-century-later. Accessed 22 September 2024.

Garsd, Jasmine. “How Springfield, Ohio, took center stage in the election immigration debate.” NPR, 12 August 2024, https://www.npr.org/2024/08/12/nx-s1-5055784/immigration-vance-trump-migration-president-migrants-election-ohio. Accessed 22 September 2024.

International Crisis Group. Haiti: A Path to Stability for a Nation in Shock. International Crisis Group, 2021. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep36471. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

International Rescue Committee. “Crisis in Haiti: Gang Violence’s Vice Grip amidst Political Turmoil.” The IRC, 25 Jan. 2024, www.rescue.org/article/crisis-haiti-gang-violences-vice-grip-amidst-political-turmoil?ms=gg_ppc_fy24_watchlist_mmus_mar&initialms=gg_ppc_fy24_watchlist_mmus_mar&utm_campaign=fy24_watchlist&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_4S3BhAAEiwA_64Yhsak7x-f_ZvfsW5bH_dc7HclVpfaw-LBl0KAEZ0ZTjm3nuSi1ET6xBoCkrsQAvD_BwE.

Lennox, Malissia. “Refugees, Racism, and Reparations: A Critique of the United States’ Haitian Immigration Policy.” Stanford Law Review, vol. 45, no. 3, 1993, pp. 687–724. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1229010. Accessed 11 Sep. 2024.
Narea, Nicole. “Biden is turning back Haitian migrants at sea, echoing a shameful chapter in US history.” Vox, 29 July 2021, https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/7/29/22589316/biden-haiti-migrant-boat-guantanamo. Accessed 22 September 2024.

Pellegrini, Sandra, et al. “Haiti: High Risk of Increased Gang Violence amid Rising Authoritarianism.” TEN CONFLICTS TO WORRY ABOUT IN 2021, edited by Elliott Bynum et al., Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, 2021, pp. 14–17. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep28646.7. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.

The Economist. “The Last Scraps of the Haitian State Are Evaporating.” The EconomistNewspaper, 7 Mar. 2024, www.economist.com/the-americas/2024/03/07/the-last-scraps-of-the-haitian-state-are-evaporating.