Welcome to the latest edition of Woy Magazine’s weekly newsletter, providing you with must-know news and commentary on Haiti and our Diaspora.
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Under the bridge
Violent images of crowds of Haitians being whipped by border patrol agents while attempting to cross the border appeared on the internet late last week. A temporary shelter has formed under the Del Rio bridge in Texas, where it is reported that thousands of Haitians hoping to seek asylum have set up camp.
Stories of the arduous journey that the migrants endured crossing the border are unimaginable. One man described the long journey of flying first to Peru and then crossing the border by foot into Panama, through to Colombia, from Colombia to Guatemala, and then into Mexico where they crossed to enter the United States.
The Biden administration responded to the mass border crossing with a swift announcement that they would be ramping up deportations, up to 7 or 8 flights a day if need be. The department of Homeland Security said last week,
“We have reiterated that our borders are not open, and people should not make the dangerous journey. Irregular migration poses a significant threat to the health and welfare of border communities and to the lives of migrants themselves and should not be attempted.” (Source: The Washington Post)
The scenes of brutality at the border and the ramped-up deportations were met with much outrage, calling out the hypocrisy of the Biden administration. This administrations pats itself on the back for being diverse, a Vice President who is the child of Black immigrants, with a chief of staff who is the child of Haitian immigrants. What use is a diverse administration that claims to be a friend of Haiti and immigrants, if these traits are only empty words for election campaigns?
Like this tweet from 2019:
Or this passionate speech from Kamala Harris about asylum seekers
Haitians have been fleeing Haiti en masse, attempting to escape hunger, massacres, lack of jobs, manmade and natural disasters. The climate that has reigned under the PHTK government has brought Haitians right to the borders of the country that both selected and has continuously supported this government.
Brian Concannon of Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti penned a powerful essay for the Miami Herald this week, “U.S. shouldn’t punish Haitians at the border. This country is to blame for their misery”
The Biden administration knows that it cannot reduce migration pressure at our border without addressing the root causes forcing people to flee their homes. It even issued a strategy for doing so in Central America in July. But this strategy is mostly suggestions for other governments, with some promise of U.S. help. It includes zero discussion of changing the US policies that have been driving immigration from Central America, or Haiti. If the Biden administration is serious about reducing the crisis in our border, it will start by looking in the mirror.
Foote di ‘fout’
On Thursday morning, Ambassador Daniel Foote, Special Envoy to Haiti announced his resignation citing the inhumane treatment of Haitians by the United States. In his shocking statement, Foote confirms what Haitian activists and concerned citizens have been voicing about U.S. policy towards Haiti for years. Foote denounced the Core Group’s support of de-facto Prime Minister Henry’s recent accord, and showed support for the civil society accord for a Haitian solution.
Last week, the U.S. and other embassies in Port-au-Prince issued another public statement of support by unelected de facto Prime Minister Dr. Ariel Henry as interim leader of Haiti, and have continued to tout his “political agreement” over another broader, earlier accord shepherded by civil society. The hubris that makes us believe we should pick the winner - again - is impressive. This cycle of international political interventions in Haiti has consistently produced catastrophic results. More negative impacts to Haiti will have calamitous consequences not only in Haiti, but in the U.S. and neighbors in the hemisphere.
It is surprising seeing such self awareness from an American official. The line, “The hubris that makes us believe we should pick the winner - again - is impressive.” acknowledges meddling by the U.S. in Haitian elections, giving us this current PHTK regime.
Depi kilè patwouy yo te vanyan konsa?
On Tuesday night, the National Haitian Police (PNH) reportedly killed up to 11 people in Port-au-Prince according to witnesses interviewed by Radio Kiskeya. Those interviewed claim that the group was gunned down while shooting a rap music video while holding fake guns, not real ones. In response, in a press conference held the next day, PNH's spokesperson Marie Michelle Verrier said that a police car on patrol was alerted by residents of a group of men with guns in the area. Inspector Verrier said that an investigation will be conducted to determine whether the guns that those killed held were real or fake. Why this shoot first and ask questions later approach? Journalist, Lilianne Pierre-Paul questioned why the police shot the group so hastily without trying to figure out what was going on first, particularly since the police are usually so timid in their interactions with armed gangs.
Call to action
Here are a few ways you can support Haitians at the Texas border.
Haitian Bridge Alliance has been at the border for years doing advocacy work for migrants. They are still on site and raising funds to provide baby formula, diapers, clothes, food, shelter etc. Donate here
Houston Haitians United is looking for volunteers who are willing to “cook and serve Haitian food, translate and can speak Haitian Creole, administer COVID tests, cut hair, braid and clean up!” Click here to learn more.
Respond Crisis Translation is recruiting new interpreters/translators. They are currently receiving a high amount of requests from organizations at the border for interpreters and translators who speak Haitian Creole. Please note that there is an onboarding process for new interpreters/translators. Get involved
Respond Crisis Translation could also use your help connecting with Haitian individuals at the border who could use their support. Please share this link .
Antre lekòl
In the Southern Peninsula, schools are hustling to prepare for the new school year after the devastating earthquake which destroyed and damaged over 900 schools. It is set to start on October 4th in the Sid, Grandans and Nip.
Dans le département du Sud, 114 écoles ont été détruites et 316 ont été endommagées. Il faudra, de toute évidence, du temps et plus de ressources humaines, financières et logistiques pour tout déblayer et permettre la construction de hangars pour accueillir les écoliers. (Source: Le Nouvelliste)
Meanwhile in other parts of the country, schools opened for the new school year this past week, including in Cap Haitien in the north of Haiti. Following such a tough summer for the country, the coming school year is laden with uncertainties. We wish these students a successful and stable school year.
RastafarI love. Thank you for another great article about the situation in Ayiti and the crisis at the Texas border. I would like to know how all of these migrants found themselves at the border at the same time! It seems to me that the Coyotes or recruiters who were paid to help them travel by Plane to Chili or Brazil in 2016, are probably involved with their decision to leave South America and risk their lives to travel by foot through the Amazon Rain Forests to come to the U.S. Finally, I want to know how so many of them, a reported 8 thousand, managed to disappear and return to Mexico so quickly? Blessed love.#1804 #Ayiti