Monday, December 7, the authorities of Guadeloupe are preparing to expel in Haiti about thirty Haitian nationals by specially chartered flight.

Several Franco-Haitian associations in Guadeloupe including "Tet Kolé", "Lakay concept", the Federation of Franco-Haitian association, "Family Band" denounce an incomprehensible group expulsion stressing that among these Haitians, there are "parents of" French children, sick people, future parents, people living in Guadeloupe for several years and people who arrived in Guadeloupe before their majority. Some of these Haitian nationals come from the Abymes Administrative Retention Center (CRA) https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32438-icihaiti-guadeloupe-the-consul-of-haiti-visits-our-compatriots-at-the-abymes-detention-center.html Within Amnesty International Guadeloupe, the Federation of the League of Human Rights Guadeloupe, or the Cimade, feelings of amazement, indignation, anger and sadness merge.

These associations recall that in Haiti a political crisis and a situation of generalized violence have persisted for months and that these expulsions are "in total contradiction with the recommendations of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which strongly advises against surrendering in Haiti."

For its part, the Prefecture of Guadeloupe, the local representative of the French state authority, does not seem willing to reverse its decision. In a press release dated Friday, December 4, 2020, it justifies this operation to return Haitian nationals to their country of origin, as part of the fight against irregular immigration.

The prefecture specifies [contrary to what the associations declare] that the expulsions to Haiti concern "only isolated men in an irregular migratory situation and takes place in accordance with the rules of rights and procedures set out in the fight against irregular immigration [...]"

According to the prefecture "this operation takes place under the control of the administrative judge and the judge of freedoms and detention. For those who wish, the possibility of requesting return assistance from the French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII) is available. Finally, this operation is being carried out with the agreement of the Haitian authorities who have provided all the health guarantees."

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32438-icihaiti-guadeloupe-the-consul-of-haiti-visits-our-compatriots-at-the-abymes-detention-center.html

S/ HaitiLibre