fbpx Top U.S. Envoy Resigns Over Haitian Deportations - Documented
 

Top U.S. Envoy Resigns Over Haitian Deportations

Plus: U.S. on track to take in record low refugees, and Biden administration prepares to reopen Guantánamo detention camp

This summary was featured in Documented’s Early Arrival newsletter. You can subscribe to receive it in your inbox three times per week here.

The top U.S. envoy to Haiti resigned Wednesday, citing the Biden administration’s “inhumane” effort to expel hundreds of Haitian migrants back to their home country. Ambassador Daniel Foote was chosen to be the U.S. special envoy to Haiti back in July. In his resignation letter, Foote cited the “inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti.” The Biden administration has responded to the increasing number of Haitians arriving at the southern border with quick deportations. According to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been 12 deportation flights carrying more than 1,400 Haitian migrants since Sunday. CBS News 

In other federal immigration news…

U.S. On Track to Take In Historic Low Number of Refugees

Even though Biden has pledged to pursue immigration reform and welcome refugees, the 2021 fiscal year will likely see a new record low number of refugee admissions. According to recent State Department numbers, the U.S. accepted only 7,637 refugees this fiscal year as of Aug. 31. President Biden increased the refugee cap to 62,500 from former President Trump’s record low cap, but it’s unlikely the U.S. will match that number by Sept. 30. The number of admitted refugees could increase before the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1 due to the evacuation of Afghans and arrival of Haitians at the southern border. But refugee advocates and lawmakers are becoming more frustrated with the Biden administration’s slow response in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. HuffPost

Biden Administration Preparing to Reopen Migrant Detention Camp

The Biden administration is getting ready to reopen a migrant detention camp in Guantánamo Bay due to the uptick of migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. ICE is allowing proposals for private contractors to run the Migrant Operations Center on the U.S. naval base, which is close to the prison housing 39 detainees in the “war on terror.” The migrant camp was originally set up back in 1991 and was proposed to hold Cuban asylum seekers. Eventually it was used to detain roughly 34,000 Haitians and close to the same number of Cubans until it was reduced by the Obama administration and hasn’t been used since 2017. NBC News reported the advertisement states, “At least 10 percent of the augmented personnel must be fluent in Spanish and Haitian Creole.” The Guardian

SEE MORE STORIES
Early Arrival Newsletter
Receive a roundup of all immigration news, and the latest policy news, in New York, nationwide, and from Washington, in your inbox 3x per week.
info@documentedny.com
Documented Advertising
Solutions
pitches@documentedny.com