By Sarah Baafi
On Tuesday, the first group of Haitian migrants deported from the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration arrived at Cap-Haïtien International Airport, located on the north coast of Haiti. This airport remains the only operational one in the country, highlighting the challenges faced by Haiti as it struggles with internal strife and economic instability.
Mario Montès, one of those deported, shared his story after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Miami. He had been living and working in Alaska for almost a year before his detention. According to Montès, he was stopped on his way to work and asked to visit an immigration office due to changes related to a new presidency that required him to reapply for certain papers. However, upon arrival at the office, he was met with handcuffs and informed that he would be sent back to his home country.
The deportations are part of a series of executive orders signed by President Trump following his return to office last month. In just over a week since taking power again, Trump’s administration has reported deporting approximately 7,300 individuals from various nationalities through actions coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Haiti is currently facing severe challenges as it grapples with surging gang violence across its capital Port-au-Prince and beyond. Recent days have seen gunmen target upscale communities, resulting in at least 40 fatalities. The broader impact is stark: more than 5,600 people were reported killed last year alone across Haiti, while over 2,200 others were injured during this period.
Furthermore, gang violence has left more than one million people homeless over recent years according to United Nations reports. This ongoing crisis raises significant concerns about how deportees will reintegrate into such an unstable environment without adequate support systems or resources available within their homeland.
