Following the deportation Tuesday in Haiti, by the United States of 68 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation, in full pandemic of Covid-19 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30473-haiti-flash-the-united-states-expels-68-haitians-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic.html Florida Democratic Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson wrote to Chad F. Wolf, Acting Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security about her concerns, raise awareness of the situation in Haiti and urged him to immediately stop the expulsions of Haitians.

Letter from Frederica S. Wilson :

"The Honorable Chad F. Wolf

Acting Secretary

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, DC 20528

Dear Acting Secretary Wolf :

I write to express my deep concern about reports of your department’s planned deportation of Haitian migrants amid the rapidly spreading and deadly COVID-19 pandemic and to urge you to immediately halt deportations for the duration of this global health crisis.

Like many of the countries to which migrants are being deported, Haiti lacks the public health infrastructure to prevent the spread of the virus or to treat a large number of infected people. Haiti has struggled to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake and other disasters, including a cholera epidemic. Many citizens stilllack accessto the most basic medical care, potable water, and soap for handwashing. It is unconscionable to repatriate migrants who may be unwitting carriers of the virus into such an environment.

I am particularly concerned about the spread of the virus among ICE detainees, given the close living conditions in detention facilities, lack of access to masks or other protective gear, and your department’spoor track record of providing adequate health care to detainees. ICE detainees and employees have already tested positive for COVID-19 and there is a high level of risk that deported migrants will act as carriers of the virus becausenearly a fifthof those who contract COVID-19 are asymptomatic. At least two detainees who were in your department's custody have reportedlytested positivefor COVID-19 shortly after they were deported.

Given Haiti’s ongoing challenges, includinga likely surgein the number of COVID-19 infections, Iurge you to immediately halt deportations and ensure that theCDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus are implemented at every facility housing ICE detainees. Deportations at this time would be both irresponsible and dangerous and will almost certainly place millions of people in countries with extremely basic health infrastructures at a disproportionate risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Frederica S. Wilson

Member of Congress"

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30473-haiti-flash-the-united-states-expels-68-haitians-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic.html

HL/ HaitiLibre