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In the wake of Donald Trump’s recent election victory, the Haitian community is reflecting on the potential impacts a second Trump administration could have on Haitians both in the United States and in Haiti. From the early days of his first term and throughout his campaign, Trump’s policies and rhetoric significantly reverberated in the Haitian American community. Here’s a look back at some of the most impactful moments that have shaped Trump’s complex interaction with the community.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump sought to win over the Haitian American community in South Florida. He pledged to stand with Haitians, contrasting himself with the ‘Clintons,’ whom he criticized for their involvement in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. Trump cited allegations of mismanaged aid funds by the Clinton Foundation, resonating with Haitian Americans frustrated by the perceived exploitation of Haiti’s disaster recovery efforts. His appeal highlighted a commitment to addressing the Haitian diaspora’s concerns about U.S.-Haiti relations, gaining him some support among Haitian voters who felt overlooked by other candidates.
On November 20, 2017, the Trump administration announced the end of TPS for Haitians, which had been extended to thousands of Haitians displaced by the 2010 earthquake. This decision placed nearly 60,000 Haitians in the U.S. at risk of deportation and sparked protests across Haitian American communities. The end of TPS became a major rallying point for Haitian American advocacy groups fighting to protect immigrants facing a return to Haiti under challenging circumstances.
In a 2018 meeting on immigration, Trump reportedly questioned the merit of including Haiti in immigration reform discussions.
“Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump said, according to people familiar with the meeting. “Take them out.”
The comments raised concerns within the Haitian American community about the perception of Haitians in U.S. policy decisions. Haitian community leaders responded by urging a fair and respectful approach to immigration, highlighting Haitians’ contributions to American society.
In a closed-door White House meeting in January 2018, Trump referred to Haiti and several African nations as “shithole countries.” The comment ignited a firestorm, with Haitian American community leaders condemning the remark as disrespectful and harmful.
This statement reinforced negative stereotypes and spurred Haitian Americans and their allies to speak out against divisive rhetoric that disparaged Haiti.
In 2019, Trump invited leaders from Caribbean nations, including a representative from Haiti, to a summit at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Florida. The gathering intended to discuss regional development and cooperation. However, critics argued that the choice of venue blurred the lines between government and personal business interests.
For Haitian Americans, some felt then President Jovenel Moise missed an opportunity to discuss the fate of some 60,000 Haitians with TPS.
In an interview with the Miami Herald after the two-hour Mar-a-Lago meeting, Moïse said his discussions with Trump “focused mostly on economic issues and how Haiti could take advantage of U.S. trade opportunities,” according to the Miami Herald.
Under Trump, immigration enforcement policies led to increased detentions and deportations of Haitian immigrants. The intensified measures resulted in family separations and raised concerns over the poor conditions in detention centers. Haitian community leaders advocated for the humane treatment of detainees, calling for policies that considered the vulnerabilities faced by Haitians fleeing economic and political instability.
Fast forward to his 2024 presidential campaign, filled with hatred and racist remarks toward immigrants, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, repeatedly spread debunked claims against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio.
Throughout the electoral campaign, Springfield had become the focal point of a political firestorm fueled by baseless claims that Haitian immigrants are responsible for criminal activities, including the theft and consumption of household pets. Local officials and police have confirmed that there was no credible evidence supporting any of the claims circulating about the Haitian community.
Still, Trump amplified the unfounded rumors on Sept. 10 during the presidential debate with Kamala Harris. His campaign also falsely claimed there had been a “massive rise in communicable diseases” in Springfield due to the influx of Haitian immigrants.
The post What can Haitians learn from Trump’s past policy positions with Haiti? appeared first on The Haitian Times.
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