标签： Haiti

In a significant humanitarian appeal, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called upon the Trump administration to reverse its decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 300,000 Haitian immigrants facing imminent legal limbo. With the February 3rd, 2026 deadline approaching, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Chairman of the Conference’s Committee on International Justice and Peace, emphasized the critical nature of the situation in a January 29th statement.

The religious leaders highlighted the severe security conditions in Haiti that make repatriation impossible, citing the U.S. State Department’s Level 4 travel advisory warning of ‘life-threatening risks’ including widespread kidnapping, civil unrest, and terrorist activities. Adding to these concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a complete flight ban from all U.S. cities to Port-au-Prince, effectively eliminating safe return corridors.

While acknowledging that TPS was designed as temporary relief, the bishops emphasized that current circumstances demand executive action. They noted that despite previous calls for congressional legislation to create pathways to permanent status for long-term TPS holders, no such legislative solution has materialized, leaving the administration with both the authority and moral responsibility to act.

The statement concluded with a powerful invocation of solidarity with the Haitian community worldwide and a prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, patroness of Haiti, seeking divine intervention for a population facing unprecedented uncertainty and danger.

In a decisive move to address Haiti’s ongoing political and security crisis, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2814 (2026) on January 29, 2026, extending the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) for an additional year through January 31, 2027.

The revised mandate significantly expands BINUH’s responsibilities across six critical areas, with particular emphasis on facilitating inter-Haitian national dialogue to support constitutional and political processes. The mission will provide crucial assistance to Haitian authorities in organizing and conducting municipal, parliamentary, and presidential elections throughout 2026, aiming to achieve a peaceful transfer of power to democratically elected officials.

A substantial enhancement to BINUH’s operational framework involves direct collaboration with the newly established Gang Suppression Force (GSF). This partnership will focus on implementing community violence reduction strategies, including the development of a Haitian-led disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program. The mission will additionally support safe exit pathways and rehabilitation services for individuals formerly associated with gangs, with special attention to vulnerable children.

The resolution mandates BINUH to assist Haitian judicial institutions in addressing prolonged pretrial detention cases while providing advisory support for handling high-risk individuals. Furthermore, the office will maintain dedicated monitoring capacity to document and report on gang violence, criminal activities, and human rights abuses—including sexual violence affecting all demographics.

During the Security Council deliberations, the United States representative characterized the resolution as “a decisive step toward the stabilization of Haiti,” emphasizing the need for efficient utilization of member states’ funds. Panama’s delegate noted the resolution’s balanced approach between electoral process assistance and judicial system support, reaffirming commitment to Haiti during this critical historical phase.

China’s representative expressed serious concerns regarding the continued influx of illegal weapons into Haiti, urging source countries to implement concrete border control measures and strengthen arms regulation in coordination with UNODC and other relevant agencies.

Haiti’s fragile political transition has plunged deeper into crisis as dissenting members of the Presidential Transitional Council attempt to oust their coordinator, Laurent Saint-Cyr, with less than ten days remaining in their mandate. This move comes as a direct response to the failed effort to remove Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé from office, which collapsed when Saint-Cyr refused to publish the dismissal resolution in Haiti’s official journal, Le Moniteur.

The removal initiative has exposed significant fractures within the council’s dissenting faction. Councilor Smith Augustin, one of the original five signatories of the prime ministerial removal resolution, has publicly broken ranks with his colleagues. In a meticulously reasoned letter addressed to fellow advisors, Augustin declared he would not endorse any resolution targeting Saint-Cyr’s position, effectively rendering the removal effort mathematically impossible due to the resulting minority status of its proponents.

Augustin’s correspondence reveals deep concerns about the legal and institutional implications of pursuing such aggressive measures during the transition’s final days. He argues that attempting to force through an unpublished resolution to override previously published decrees establishes a dangerous precedent that could trigger an “uncontrollable institutional spiral.” The councilor further notes that the initial removal attempt has already exacerbated political tensions and created diplomatic friction with international partners, particularly the United States government, which has expressed unusual public support for Prime Minister Fils-Aimé.

This internal crisis emerges against the backdrop of Haiti’s extreme institutional fragility, with the transitional council’s mandate scheduled to conclude on February 7, 2026. Augustin’s withdrawal from the removal campaign represents a significant setback for those seeking last-minute political changes, potentially preserving the current leadership structure through the transition’s completion.

In a significant demonstration of Haiti’s commitment to gender equality, Minister for the Status of Women and Women’s Rights Ms. Pedrica Saint Jean outlined a comprehensive series of initiatives during her January 27, 2026 appearance on “Tuesdays of the Nation” at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Minister detailed the successful execution of eleven departmental conferences conducted from December 4-10, 2025, followed by a landmark National Conference on Women’s Political Participation and Electoral Violence held December 12-14, 2025 in Les Cayes. These gatherings represented substantial efforts to address systemic barriers facing women in Haiti’s political landscape.

Beyond political engagement, Minister Saint Jean highlighted tangible economic empowerment programs, including the January 25th graduation ceremony for 289 single mothers and women who completed training through the “Socio-economic Integration of Single Mothers and Women” project. This initiative provides vital skills and resources to vulnerable women seeking financial independence.

In response to the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis, the Ministry announced the establishment of four Women’s Centers across the West, Grand’Anse, Center, and Artibonite departments. These facilities will strengthen protection mechanisms, build resilience, and promote empowerment for victims of violence.

A critical development includes the launch of the 8919 emergency hotline, dedicated to providing immediate support and protection for survivors of violence. This service represents a crucial lifeline for women in distress.

Minister Saint Jean concluded by reaffirming the Haitian government’s unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls throughout the nation, emphasizing that these initiatives reflect the State’s dedication to creating meaningful change despite challenging circumstances.