US delivers 20 armored vehicles to Haiti security mission amid growing criticism

PORT-AU-PRINCE — The U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has delivered 20 additional armored troop transport vehicles to Haiti’s Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS), officials announced Wednesday. The vehicles, arriving on Feb. 14, are meant to bolster the MSS’s ability to assist the Haitian National Police (PNH) in combating armed gangs.

“INL delivered critically needed vehicles to the MSS in Haiti, bolstering the 1,000 MSS personnel in the country to improve security for the people of Haiti and the region,” U.S. officials said in a post on X.

This is the second batch of equipment provided to Haiti after an earlier $6 million in security assistance under the Trump administration. However, the cost of this new shipment has not been disclosed.

The delivery comes as Haiti’s security crisis worsens, with gangs controlling more than 80% of Port-au-Prince metropolitan areas and violence surging notably in Kenscoff, Delmas, Pétion-Ville and Carrefour-Feuilles. Residents continue to flee their homes, while police officers are increasingly targeted.

Public frustration over continued insecurity

While the U.S. Department of State frames the vehicle shipment as critical to MSS operations, Haitians remain unconvinced. Social media platforms have been flooded with reactions questioning the mission’s ability to curb gang violence, with skepticism remaining high. Many continue to question the MSS’ effectiveness, as gangs spiral out of control.

“What are they useful for?” wrote Facebook user Odulès Vincent. “For all this time they’ve been here, I’ve never heard of what they’ve done.”

“It’s a theatrical show,” added Chener Chérubin. “What law enforcement really needs are assault tanks and attack helicopters.”

“It’s not now that they are sending armored vehicles, but nothing concrete has changed,” said Ernst Mésidor, pointing out that previous U.S. aid has not yielded results. “We still can’t live in the country because of the insecurity.”

Gang violence escalates: Police, civilians under attack

The latest U.S. delivery coincides with a spike in gang violence, including attacks on police and civilians.

On Feb. 19, the number of police officers killed in one week rose to five, with the latest victim being Officer Steve Emmanuel Laguerre of the Brigade for the Fight Against Drug Trafficking (BLTS). He was killed near the National Palace in the Fort National quarter.

At the same time, residents in several districts, including Kenscoff, Delmas, Pétion-Ville, downtown Port-au-Prince and Carrefour-Feuilles, have been fleeing their homes in panic, carrying whatever belongings they could.

“Since 6 p.m. on Feb. 19, people in Carrefour-Feuilles have been running with suitcases on their heads,” a local resident told The Haitian Times. “We cry for help, but there’s nothing left to do but flee.”

A woman who fled Kenscoff added: “I ran with a child. I didn’t even have time to grab anything—not a birth certificate, not even underwear. My father stayed behind. I don’t know if he’s alive.”

Residents caught in the violence say the MSS has failed to provide meaningful relief. Despite police raids and interventions, these latest attacks follow massacres in Kenscoff and Delmas 30, where more than 150 people were killed.

“You leave the house not knowing where to hide,” the Kenscoff woman said. “They hide under the trees and watch you as you flee, to kill you.”

U.S. support continues despite UN fund freeze, unanswered questions about MSS strategy

The U.S. delivery follows a controversial freeze of its $13.3 million contribution to the United Nations fund supporting Haiti’s multinational force. Shortly after his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day review of U.S. foreign assistance, leading to concerns that support for Haiti’s security mission might be scaled back.

However, despite the UN funding pause, the U.S. continues to provide direct assistance to the MSS. Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver of $40.7 million in additional security aid for the MSS and the PNH, according to the U.S. Embassy in Haiti.

“The United States has not paused all assistance for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti,” the embassy posted on X. “On the contrary, Secretary Rubio approved waivers to allow for millions of dollars in mission-critical assistance to the MSS and Haitian National Police.”

With gang violence forcing thousands to flee their homes and police officers being killed on duty, the MSS remains under pressure to demonstrate results.

Despite repeated inquiries from The Haitian Times, MSS leadership has not provided details on how the new armored vehicles will be deployed. As Haitians continue to demand security, it remains unclear whether these reinforcements will make a meaningful impact—or simply fuel further skepticism.

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