The U.S. State Department has just elevated Haiti to “level four” destination. Travel warning They urgently instruct their citizens not to travel due to elevated crime, civil disorder, and health care crisis. This announcement comes just days after a similar declaration from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They announced that over half a million Haitians risk being sent back to Haiti after their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) expires. The alarming disparity between these decisions begs the question of the safety of U.S. citizens and Haitian nationals, full stop.
Haiti has been in turmoil since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, leading to a surge in violence. The Department of State U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince advises American citizens to leave Haiti immediately. Urgent recommendations They stress, “Leave Haiti immediately. This comes after the U.S. embassy in Haiti warned of rapidly worsening conditions. Over 80 percent of Port-au-Prince is under the control of heavily armed gangs.
According to the U.S. State Department’s website, “Crimes involving firearms are common in Haiti,” including robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom. Its documents note that U.S. citizens have been harmed or killed by these crimes. The United Nations’ warning goes on to describe an upsurge in mob lynchings and public violence, especially against people believed to be engaging in crime.
Even flying to and from Port-au-Prince recently has turned into a treacherous situation. Gang-controlled roads have become a significant threat to making it to safety. The UK Foreign Office states that armed carjacking is a frequent threat. Criminal organizations often deploy makeshift roadblocks to carry out extortion or kidnapping of travelers.
Despite these dire conditions, more than 521,000 Haitians are currently at risk of deportation from the U.S. Their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is set to expire September 2. Initially offered TPS following the catastrophic earthquake in 2010, many Haitians have relied on this status for protection amid ongoing instability at home.
They are using a complete lie to justify their actions. Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, condemned the government’s claim. She Charlotte said that she was stunned by assertions that conditions in Haiti have improved such that it would be safe to return its nationals.
“I’m still in shock, but I’m totally disgusted. This is a complete lie stating that the situation in Haiti has improved enough that it is safe for Haitian citizens to return home. This is a lie.” – Tessa Petit
A DHS spokesperson defended the decision regarding TPS, asserting that it “restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that temporary protective status is actually temporary.” They pointed to progress made on environmental concerns in Haiti, claiming the country is now a safe place for its citizens to come home to.
The often contradictory and confusing U.S. government signals have created a terrible situation for Haitian nationals and American citizens as well. As violence swells in Haiti, the need for clear and timely information on safety and changes to immigration policy is more urgent than ever.