Haitian diaspora groups sue Trump, Vance and others for $550 million over false claims targeting immigrants

The Haitian Diaspora Political Action Committee (HDPAC) and the Office of the Haitian Diaspora (ODIHA) filed a $550 million federal lawsuit on Sept. 28 against former President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Senator JD Vance, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana and tech mogul Elon Musk, among others, for orchestrating a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of Haitian immigrants. 

The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, accuses the defendants of inciting hostility and violence toward Haitian migrants, particularly those in Springfield, Ohio.

According to the plaintiffs, the harmful and false narratives propagated about Haitian immigrants, including defamatory accusations that they have engaged in criminal activities, such as stealing and eating residents’ pets, have not only endangered families but have also damaged their reputations and put their safety at risk.

These claims, which local officials and media reports have debunked, were amplified on social media and public platforms, particularly by Musk’s platform X, formerly Twitter. Haitian American leaders assert that these racially charged statements were designed to incite fear, hatred, and violence against the Haitian community in the U.S.

“This lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their reckless and defamatory conduct, which has endangered the lives of Haitian migrants,” Ralph Francois, counsel for the plaintiffs, said.

“No one is above the law, not even a former president or sitting officials.”

The lawsuit also names Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for his inaction in the violation of the rights of Haitian immigrants in the state, U.S. House Rep. Clay Higgins from Louisiana for tweeting racist rants about Haitians and Elon Musk, whose platform is accused of being used as a vehicle to spread misinformation and hatred toward Haitian immigrants.

Musk’s acquisition of Twitter—now X—in 2022 has led to concerns about lax content moderation, which allows the platform to proliferate hate speech and conspiracy theories.

On Wednesday, Higgins posted on X that “Haitians are wild” and that Haiti is the “nastiest country in the western hemisphere.” 

He also promoted the false claim about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating pets. “All these thugs better get their mind right and their a– out of our country before January 20th,” the post read.

 “Haitian American children have been traumatized by these lies. Families are under incredible stress, and the hardworking members of the Haitian community who contribute to this country are being demonized.”

Jean D. Vernet, Chairman of the Haitian Diaspora Political Action Committee

Impact of false claims and racist rhetoric on Haitians and Haitian Americans

Trump has a history of negative comments about Haitian immigrants. In 2018, Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as “s***hole countries,” prompting international backlash. The Haitian Diaspora PAC lawsuit also references a 2019 court ruling in Saget v. Trump, which found that Trump’s remarks were likely racially motivated and influenced his administration’s attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals.

Trump’s negative portrayal of Haitian immigrants is part of a broader pattern of hostility toward immigrants during his presidency. His administration’s push to end TPS for Haiti, as well as his plan for building a border wall and restricting asylum, particularly affected immigrants from Black and brown countries. His frequent false claims about immigrants bringing diseases, crime, and drugs into the U.S. have repeatedly been debunked but remain powerful in fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.

The Haitian Diaspora PAC and ODIHA claim Trump and Vance’s false narratives have directly harmed Haitian immigrants in Springfield [and in other cities across the U.S.], leading to a wave of bomb threats and chaos in the town, harassment, and increased fear within the Haitian American community. Families report that their children have been bullied in schools due to the defamatory statements, which have caused significant emotional distress.

“Haitian American children have been traumatized by these lies,” said Jean D. Vernet, chairman of the Haitian Diaspora PAC. 

“Families are under enormous stress, and hardworking Haitians who contribute to this country are being demonized.”

The lawsuit seeks $550 million in compensatory and punitive damages and requests injunctive relief to prevent further civil rights violations. The plaintiffs hope the lawsuit will expose a racially motivated conspiracy to harm Haitians and stop the spread of dangerous rhetoric.

David L. Alexis, president of ODIHA, stressed that the case is about more than just financial compensation. “This lawsuit is about sending a message that hateful rhetoric targeting vulnerable communities will not go unchallenged,” he said.

Besides this federal lawsuit filed federally against Trump and Vance, the Republican presidential candidate and his running mate also face criminal charges in Ohio over their continued false claims about Haitian immigrants.

On Sept. 24, the immigration advocacy organization Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) took legal action to hold Trump and Vance accountable for the devastating harm they caused to the Haitian community in Springfield and Haitians around the United States. This criminal complaint is also intended to have far-reaching consequences beyond just the Haitian and Haitian American communities.

Guerline Jozef, executive director of HBA said: “This is about confronting white supremacy, anti-Black rhetoric, and hate speech that seems to be a constant in U.S. politics and that continues to cause suffering. No one is above the law.”

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Haitian diaspora groups sue Trump, Vance and others for $550 million over false claims targeting immigrants was first posted on September 29, 2024 at 12:44 pm.