US Special Envoy to Haiti Resigns in Protest of US Deportations

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The US Special Envoy to Haiti Daniel Foote resigned on Thursday, a mere two months after his appointment, in protest of President Joe Biden's administration's deportation of Haitian refugees.

#BREAKING US Special envoy for Haiti Daniel Foote resigns, citing the deportations of Haitians refugees pic.twitter.com/sfaSfpXHlU

— Guy Elster (@guyelster) September 23, 2021

"I will not be associated with the United States' inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life," Foote said in his resignation letter.

SCOOP: Special Envoy for Haiti, Amb Daniel Foote, a career member of foreign service, has RESIGNED. In his letter of resignation, he says he will not be associated with the U.S.'s "inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees." Letter attached. pic.twitter.com/KlW5GoTF3u

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) September 23, 2021

A few days ago, the US administration said it will speed up the aerial deportation of more than 10 thousand refugees, most of whom are from Haiti, which authorities held for days under a bridge in Texas after they crossed the Mexican border. The Department of Homeland Security noted in a statement that it will provide additional planes to speed up deportations to Haiti and other destinations within the next 72 hours.

The Department also revealed a plan to contain the situation, whereby it sent 400 additional Border Patrol agents to reinforce the control efforts in the area, stressing that it will fly the refugees back to Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and the Northern Triangle states.

It also said that most immigrants are being deported in light of a public health order, known as Title 42, which was issued under the Trump administration and allows migrants to be expelled from US soil without giving them a chance to claim asylum.

Despite all this, a federal judge suspended the use of Title 42 to expel migrant families along the border, which further complicated the work of authorities that are forced to contend with a historical influx of refugees at the border with Mexico. The administration resumed the use of the order on Friday.

This is a humanitarian issue, and this will be America’s litmus test of humanity and empathy. Our Haitian brothers and sisters are in need of our help and our full attention. #Haiti pic.twitter.com/AAxxdvKrPU

— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) September 22, 2021

More than 1.3 million immigrants were arrested at the border with Mexico since Joe Biden became President on January 2nd, a figure not seen in the last 20 years. Republicans have been accusing Biden for months of causing an immigration crisis by reducing Trump's anti-immigration measures, which the latter considered one of his priorities.

Watch | thousands of immigrants camp under Texas Bridge at US-Mexico border. pic.twitter.com/wace32aqx5

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 19, 2021