Haitian Migrants Return to Chile and Brazil after Being Deported from US
Thousands of Haitian migrants, including Eric Jean Louis, gave up their lives in Chile and Brazil to trek thousands of miles to the United States, hoping to claim asylum under President Joe Biden’s new administration. However, their hopes were dashed when US officials at Del Rio, Texas returned them to Haiti, a country they left 14 years ago due to gang violence.
The Journey Back
After six weeks of living in Haiti, Jean Louis scraped together money from friends to buy plane tickets to Chile, ready to start again in a place where life was not easy and Haitians sometimes faced racism. He said, “Since I’ve been here, I hardly sleep at night. I’m afraid.”
The New Migration Triangle
Jean Louis’ family and others with money and the right visas are part of a new migration triangle, returning to places in the Southern Cone they had just left, and abandoning, for now, their American Dream. As rumors grew among Haitian communities in Chile and Brazil that Haitians were being allowed to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to claim asylum, an encampment under the Del Rio International Bridge swelled to 14,000 people in September wanting to enter the United States.
Challenges and Remorse
Dozens of those expelled have since returned to Chile or Brazil, estimated Giuseppe Loprete, Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration in Haiti. However, the journey back is not easy. Four people expelled from Del Rio told Reuters they were struggling to pay for plane tickets and get visas in order. Some left Chile while awaiting visa renewals, and must now contend with tougher visa rules from 2018.
Conclusion
The US decision to return Haitians to Haiti during a time of political turmoil and gang violence has sparked outrage among migrant advocates and a Biden appointee. The journey back to Chile and Brazil is not easy, but it beats the alternative. As Jean Louis said, “I want to start over again.”
FAQs
Q: Why did Haitian migrants return to Chile and Brazil?
A: Many Haitian migrants returned to Chile and Brazil after being deported from the US due to worsening violence and political turmoil in Haiti.
Q: What are the challenges faced by Haitian migrants?
A: Haitian migrants face challenges such as struggling to pay for plane tickets, getting visas in order, and dealing with tougher visa rules.
Q: What is the current situation in Haiti?
A: Haiti is experiencing political turmoil and gang violence, which has led to kidnappings targeting locals and foreigners, including American and Canadian missionaries.
Q: What is being done to help Haitian migrants?
A: Migrant advocates and some governments are working to facilitate the return of Haitian migrants to Chile and Brazil, but the process is slow and challenging due to the pandemic and visa application backlog.