U.S. Deportations to Haiti ‘Legally and Morally Indefensible’

Please see below statement from Refugees International President Eric P. Schwartz:

“According to a plan announced on Saturday, the Biden administration has begun to fly asylum seekers to Haiti, though many of them have not lived in Haiti for years. When U.S. officials expel and return individuals seeking protection without assessing their asylum claims, they act unlawfully and create serious risks to the safety of asylum seekers. And the risks with respect to Haiti are particularly compelling.

Expelling and returning Haitians to a country in the midst of a political and humanitarian crisis—to a country which cannot ensure their security and basic needs—is both legally and morally indefensible.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Refugees International Director of Communications Sarah Sheffer at ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org or +1 202 540 7029.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Expelled migrants arrive on September 19, 2021 at the airport in Port au Prince on September 19, 2021. (Photo by RICHARD PIERRIN/AFP via Getty Images)