Columbans Demand Humane Treatment of Haitian Migrants

Washington, DC – Columbans and our interfaith partners are shocked and horrified by the Biden administration’s escalation of Haitian deportations and expulsions and the inhumane treatment of Haitians by Border Patrol officers at the U.S. southern border. The egregious actions of U.S. Border Patrol officers towards Haitian asylum-seekers reflect our nation’s long history of a broken immigration system built on racism and cruelty. Haitian children and families are at our borders because of multiple, compounding crises, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, food insecurity, and natural disasters that wiped out schools and entire neighborhoods.

We demands immediate response and accountability from the Biden administration on the actions against Haitian refugees seen at the border this week. A Columban priest serving on the U.S-Mexico border said: “The utterly racist, violent and inhumane treatment of unarmed, defenseless, and traumatized Haitian refugees by these CBP agents brings shame and disgrace upon our nation. May God forgive us and open our hearts with compassion.” The Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach team urges “President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas to immediately stop the inhume treatment, investigate and make necessary procedural corrections for CBP to ensure that such acts do not occur again. Additionally, they demand the termination of Title 42 and its use as a tool to expel migrants and refugees without allowing them to present their cases. Migrants and refugees fleeing dangerous, life-threatening conditions, such as people from Haiti, should be allowed to claim asylum in their quest to reach safety.”

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Read the full statement, including comments by other faith-based organizations, here.