By Guillermo Azábal
United Nations, Apr 21 (EFE).- The United Nations Special Representative for Haiti, María Isabel Salvador, warned Monday about growing fears that the United States could increase deportations of Haitian migrants, raising serious human rights concerns.
“There is real fear that deportation from the US to Haiti will increase, forcing people back into extremely precarious and unsafe conditions,” Salvador told EFE in an interview from UN headquarters in New York, where she later addressed the Security Council during a special session on Haiti.
An estimated 700,000 Haitians currently live in the United States, particularly in Florida, with notable communities in Massachusetts, in cities like Springfield.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, United States President Donald Trump faced heavy criticism after falsely claiming Haitian immigrants were stealing pets to eat, a comment seen as fueling harmful stereotypes.
Haiti, the poorest country in Western Hemisphere, has been trapped in cycles of political and security crises for decades.
Violence has sharply escalated since early 2023, with over 5,600 people killed and more than one million displaced internally, according to UN figures.
Much of the violence stems from clashes between criminal gangs, Haitian authorities, and the Multinational Security Mission (MSS) led by Kenya.
Salvador also voiced concern over reports that the US is considering designating Haitian gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, as it did earlier this year against Mexican cartels and groups like Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
“The term ‘terrorist’ is not defined under international law, leaving room for broad interpretations and potential human rights violations,” Salvador warned. “I hope the US does not take that step.”
She emphasized that such designations could unfairly stigmatize large Haitian communities in the US.
Additionally, Salvador criticized recent cuts by the US and other Western nations to humanitarian budgets, saying they have severely limited the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and other UN agencies operating in the country.
Security must come first
According to Salvador, Haiti’s worsening security situation must be addressed before any political or humanitarian efforts can succeed.
“The number one priority is restoring security, even ahead of organizing elections or expanding humanitarian aid,” she said, adding she doubts presidential elections, tentatively scheduled for February, will happen on time.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed two months ago that the UN take on a greater logistical and financial role in ing the MSS, which has only deployed about 1,000 of the 2,500 personnel promised.
His plan would rely on contributions from UN member states to fund the necessary operations.
Salvador urged the UN Security Council to move swiftly to adopt Guterres’ proposal, warning that without urgent action, “the situation will continue to deteriorate.”
However, she acknowledged the Council has been slow to act.
“Unfortunately, progress has stalled,” she said. “The US and Panama are drafting a resolution, but there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm. Some countries are likely to oppose any proposal perceived as being led by the US”
BINUH’s current mandate is set to expire in July.
Due to escalating violence, the mission recently evacuated 70 of its 87 staff , who are now working remotely from neighboring countries.
If conditions do not improve, Salvador warned, criminal gangs could control up to 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, by the end of the year, and more than half of Haiti’s population could face food insecurity by June, according to UN estimates. EFE
ga/seo/mcd
