Haitian Prime Minister warns inequalities will drive continued migration

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry warned the international community on Saturday that global migration will continue as long as there is inequality.

In a video address to the United Nations General Assembly, Henry, who took office in July shortly after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, argued that “human beings, fathers and mothers who have children, will always flee poverty and conflict, ”according to The Associated Press.

“We do not wish to challenge the right of a sovereign state to control the borders of entry into its territory, or to return to the country of origin those who enter a country illegally,” he said, but noted that world leaders should expect an overwhelming majority. migration levels persist.

“Migration will continue as long as the planet has the two rich zones, when most of the world population lives in poverty, even extreme poverty, with no prospect of a better life,” he argued. , the AP reported.

The Prime Minister’s comments follow an effort by the Biden administration to remove thousands of Haitian migrants from the southern border of the United States.

President BidenJoe BidenHaitian Prime Minister Warns Inequality Will Drive Further Pelosi Migration: House To Pass 3 Major Spending Laws This Week Erdoğan Says Turkey Plans To Buy Another Russian Defense System MORE has faced a backlash in handling the situation, as the country of Haiti and its people have recently been hit by several crises that have caused uncertainty and unrest.

Although Henry did not specifically mention the United States or make a specific criticism of the administration’s policies, he said recent images and videos of American border patrol officers on horseback chasing migrants “shocked a lot of people”.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro mayorkasAlejandro MayorkasHaitian Prime Minister warns that inequalities will lead to continued migration O’Rourke denounces the treatment of Haitian migrants by the White House: “It should not have happened” Sunday shows preview: Pelosi announces date of vote on infrastructure; administration defends immigration policies PLUS told reporters on Friday that the United States had deported about 2,000 Haitians who had gathered under a bridge in the border town of Del Rio, Texas.

The migrants were deported under Title 42, a policy Biden pursued from the Trump administration in which migrants can be immediately deported from the country during the pandemic without giving them the opportunity to seek asylum.

Members of Biden’s own party condemned the rise in power repatriation flights to Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, citing the ongoing recovery after last month’s massive earthquake and political instability following the assassination of the president.

Mayorkas defended the administration’s policy on Friday, saying the evictions were being carried out because of a “public health need”.

The US special envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, resigned in protest this week over the administration’s handling of Haitian migrants. He also noted in his resignation letter that he disputes US support for Henry, who faces allegations of possible links to the president’s assassination.

The secretary general of Haiti’s Council of Ministers announced last week that he was stepping down after Haiti’s former chief prosecutor asked a judge to press charges against Henry in connection with the assassination.

The concerns stemmed from phone calls made to Henry shortly after the assassination by a murder suspect.

Henry, who has denied the allegations, sacked the Haitian prosecutor and justice minister last week, according to the AP.