Haitian activists demand halt to deportations as gang violence and poverty soar

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haitian activists connected Thursday demanded that different countries temporarily extremity deportations to their state owed to a surge successful pack unit and deepening poverty.

Tens of thousands of group person been deported to Haiti successful nan past month, mostly from nan Dominican Republic, whose president precocious pledged to deport immoderate 10,000 migrants a week.

The Caribbean country, which shares nan land of Hispaniola pinch Haiti, has deported astir 61,000 migrants to Haiti from Oct. 2 to Nov. 5, according to nan latest authorities figures.

In October, nan U.S. deported 258 Haitians, while Turks & Caicos, Jamaica and nan Bahamas deported a mixed full of 231, according to Sam Guillaume, a spokesperson for Haiti’s Support Group for Returnees and Refugees.

He noted that galore of those deported to Haiti stay homeless.

“A batch of them can’t make it backmost location because their vicinity is controlled by gangs,” he said.

As a result, immoderate deportees are temporarily surviving on Haiti’s separator pinch nan Dominican Republic successful hopes of crossing again.

Gangs now power 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and gunmen person been relentless in attacking erstwhile serene communities.

The deportees now subordinate nan much than 700,000 group near bum by pack unit successful caller years.

Among that group are much than 12,000 who fled neighborhoods successful Port-au-Prince pursuing attacks past month, according to nan U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.

Those held for deportation successful nan Dominican Republic are being forced into crowded jails pinch nary water, nary nutrient and nary beds, and erstwhile they take sides their rights, they are sometimes tear-gassed, Guillaume said.

“People are being treated for illustration criminals,” he said.

He added that immoderate organizations helping Haitians successful nan Dominican Republic besides are being attacked.

A spokesperson for Dominican President Luis Abinader could not beryllium instantly reached for comment.

Guillaume said Dominicans who are smuggling Haitians into their state are sometimes kidnapping them and demanding up to $300 for their release.

Katia Bonte, coordinator for Haiti’s Support Group for Returnees and Refugees, said nan migrants they’re assisting urgently request food, water, aesculapian aid, hygienic kits and different basal supplies.

The petition to temporarily halt deportations comes arsenic U.S. president-elect Donald Trump promises wide deportations erstwhile he’s sworn in, though galore questions stay astir really his management would do so.

The Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, a New York-based group, said Thursday that refugees, migrants and others “will look escalating challenges” successful nan aftermath of nan U.S. statesmanlike election.

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Associated Press newsman Dánica Coto successful San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed.