Update on Deportations to Haiti

In January, MADRE signed on to a letter urging the United States government to halt deportations to Haiti. This letter expressed our support of a petition presented to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) a few days prior and was in response to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Authorities’ decision to resume deportations to Haiti in 2011.

Haiti is a country still reeling from the detrimental effects of the January 2010 earthquake, including a massive crisis of rape of women and girls in the camps and a deadly cholera epidemic. MADRE is currently working in Haiti with our partner organization, KOFAVIV, to combat these epidemic levels of sexual violence, and to deliver humanitarian aid in an effort to slow the spread of cholera.

To resume deportations is a violation of human rights, and is, as the letter stated, “both inhumane and impracticable." Unfortunately, the US has not changed its policy. As a result, deportations have resumed, and already we are witnessing the deadly consequences of this decision. Earlier this week we received news that one deportee has died due to cholera-like symptoms, and at least one other is exhibiting such symptoms.

To read more about the emergency petition and the letter of support, click here. To learn more about MADRE’s program in Haiti, click here.