Different organizations criticized on Thursday the decision by the U.S. government to conduct a new deportation flight of Haitian migrants despite the country still being engulfed in violence.
This was the second deportation flight since late February, when an already chaotic situation was exacerbated further and gangs intensified their attacks on the country's police and institutions.
Sunil Varghese, Policy Director at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), called the decision "unconscionable" and said that, "to make matters worse, many of those aboard today's deportation flight likely were subjected to unfair, elevated standards to seek asylum in the United States due to recent Biden administration policies."
"The U.S. must stop deporting Haitians immediately. Now is the moment for the U.S. government to offer TPS and humanitarian assistance to Haiti, not to send people fleeing for their lives back into grave danger," he added.
Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director at America's Voice, said on her end that "sending Haitians back amidst political turmoil and increased gang attacks will worsen human suffering."
"We support the calls from community members and organizations like the Haitian Bridge Alliance and others in urging President Biden to provide protections for Haitian families and immediately stop cruel deportation."
The organization also recalled a statement by Guerline Jozef, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, during a press conference earlier this month, emphasizing that "sending people to a country plagued by insecurity and humanitarian crises is unconscionable."
The outlook for Haiti continues to be uncertain. A multinational force tasked with quelling violence in the country seems to be closer to arriving, but gangs controlling most of the capital warned they won't lay down their arms.
Speaking to NPR last week, the country's most notorious gang leader, Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, said the consortium of criminal organization he leads is gearing up for a lengthy fight that will involve "a lot of bloodshed." He added that forces will eventually get tired of fighting and leave the Haiti.
In the meantime, the country's recently-appointed transitional council attempts to solidify its position after a chaotic start that saw them backtrack on a prime minister announcement. Police authorities want the transitional council to demand the resignation of the police chief, as they "continue to lose their premises and equipment and officers," according to a Haitian police union.
Over 360,000 people have had to leave their homes and millions are unable to conduct their daily lives amid daily violence on the streets.
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