Mexico has begun its voluntary repatriation flights to Haiti in a bid to ease the growing humanitarian crisis at the border.
According to Mexico’s National Migration Institute, this week, 70 Haitians were voluntarily flown back to their home country, including 13 children. The move comes on the heels of an agreement between the two countries “to begin the voluntary assisted return of migrants.”
Tens of thousands of Haitians have fled the island over recent months. Haiti has been rocked by the assassination of Moise, spiraling gang violence in the capital, a devasting August earthquake.
Support of Haiti’s plight from the U.S. government has been meager.
Nearly 4,000 migrants apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Del Rio, Texas, have been expelled, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Earlier this month, the world was shocked to see images of Border Patrol agents on horse patrol assaulting Haitian migrants — whips in hand. The Department of Homeland Security announced that an investigation was underway. So far, the only action announced has been to suspend the use of horse patrol at the border.
“We saw some of the mistreatment that these Haitians suffered and it struck us a lot,” Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry told CNN. “What we are saying is that as long as there are countries that are better off than others, there will always be an appeal towards those wealthier.”
“We are not responsible for their deportation,” and Haiti “cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the United States,” he added, but said that “all Haitians who return to their native soil are entitled to a welcome.”
As the U.S. continues to procrastinate, Mexico has offered some relief.
Last week, Acuña Deputy Mayor Felipe Basulto Corona offered Haitian migrants gathered in a makeshift camp in a park near the Rio Grande an opportunity to work.
“The Mexican government is going to offer the opportunity to those who want to stay in Mexico to proceed with the legal residency and work permit procedures here,” he told them Friday.
The offer was not conditional. Basulto Corona ordered the migrants to vacate the park and move to a rented private building in Acuña utilized by Mexican immigration authorities. “You will not be imprisoned, you will not be detained. You are free, you are home,” Basulto Corona said.
