Congress’ Black and Haiti caucuses, advocates demand urgent US action for Haitians

Members of the US Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and House Haiti Caucus joined with advocates on Capitol Hill Wednesday to demand that the Biden-Harris administration and their Republican colleagues swiftly implement policies they believe would empower Haitians. At a press conference, the representatives reiterated their urgent plea for humanitarian aid to Haiti, along with several other demands for the US government to revise its approach to Haiti’s escalating crisis.

“As the humanitarian, political, economic, and security crisis in Haiti worsens, we must prioritize the needs of its people,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California), a senior member of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.

The press conference took place amid a series of discussions and roundtables the two caucuses have organized to raise awareness among policymakers and advocate for immediate, effective US policies in Haiti. One roundtable included several Haitian American community organizations, focused on addressing concerns and formulating policy recommendations for sustainable solutions to the nation’s challenges.

Overall, the congressional leaders and the advocates want policies that would enable Haitians, both in Haiti and the Diaspora, to steer Haiti collaboratively towards democracy and lasting progress. They emphasized that enduring and empowering support for Haitians, rather than quick fixes, will be effective. They also implored the federal government to stop deporting Haitians and to renew the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program set to expire on August 3, 2024.

The advocates also called on Congress to renew the HOPE and HELP trade programs, set to expire in 2025, that aim to bolster Haiti’s economy, especially through the apparel sector and preferential US market access.

Furthermore, they demanded their colleagues pass a $40 million aid package designated for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) led by Kenya. Congressional Republicans have blocked this aid for six months, demanding more details on the mission’s logistics, duration and objectives – a move Democrats have criticized as a political maneuver at the expense of Haitian lives.

“A true democracy in Haiti requires the people of Haiti to help create a secure environment to shape their future without fear of violence,” she said in a statement issued after the presser.

In addition to Lee, caucus members at the press conference included Frederica Wilson (FL) and Cori Bush (MO), Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Ayanna Pressley (MA), Yvette D. Clarke (NY) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL) . Among the advocates present were Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance; Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition; Patrice Lawrence, executive director of the UndocuBlack Network and Mary Estimé-Irvin, chairwoman of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON).

“An economic plan akin to the Marshall Plan is essential to aid Haiti, which is located less than 90 miles from our shores, in addition to humanitarian assistance and the reconsideration of TPS,” said Estimé-Irvin. “Like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, Haiti is a sovereign nation that requires support.”