AGP Executive Report

Haiti Electoral Governance: Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) reshuffled its four-member executive bureau, replacing journalist Jacques Desrosiers with Peterson Pierre-Louis as president, as December elections approach and political groups press for changes to the electoral process. U.S.-Haiti Security Cooperation: The U.S. Embassy in Haiti says it has wrapped up a three-week International Visitor Leadership Program training 10 Haitians on combating gang violence, with participants returning after meetings with law enforcement and specialists. Haiti International Pressure on Gangs: Haiti is urging the international community to renew an anti-gang force mandate ahead of planned elections, as insecurity continues to disrupt political life. Haiti Deportations & TPS Fallout (Diaspora Politics): Coverage continues on the broader TPS crackdown affecting Haitians in the U.S., including reports of workforce strain in senior care and ongoing community mobilization after TPS ends. Education Under Attack: Education Above All and partners marked the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, highlighting how conflict and insecurity—including in Haiti—are hitting schools and learning spaces. Sports & Social Cohesion: A Haiti-focused piece argues football remains a rare space for social mixing and hope even as gang violence reshapes daily life.

Haiti Electoral Process: Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) reshuffled its four-member executive bureau, replacing journalist Jacques Desrosiers with Peterson Pierre-Louis as president, as criticism grows over the feasibility of the Dec. 13 vote timeline. Security & Governance: Haiti urged the UN to renew the Gang Suppression Force mandate before it expires Sept. 30, saying gangs still control parts of Port-au-Prince and violence is derailing election preparations. Kidnappings in Haiti: Three prominent figures were kidnapped within a day—journalist Wesly Renaud Jean, lawyer Caleb Jean-Baptiste, and ONAPE director general Stéphanie Paultre—highlighting how gangs are reaching professionals and public officials. Diaspora Pressure (US immigration policy): After Haiti’s TPS ended, New York advocates and health-care groups warned of staffing shocks and instability; in Southwest Florida, providers cited a new labor shortage tied to Haitian work-permit losses. US deportation backlash: Archbishop Paul Coakley urged President Trump to pause enforced Haitian departures, citing Port-au-Prince killings, injuries, and kidnappings.

Haiti Elections: The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) says 506,953 voters have been registered nationwide as of Sept. 6, with December 13 set for long-awaited presidential, legislative, and constitutional referendum voting—final results for the first round due Jan. 9, 2027, and local results expected March 12. Back-to-School Support: Haiti’s government launched a 2.5 billion gourde cash-transfer plan for 140,000 parents (15,000 gourdes each) and expanded a broader back-to-school package for 30,000 vulnerable families, including school rehabilitation, 8,000 furniture items, and 10,750 police for the 2026-2027 school year. Anti-Gang Mission Scrutiny: Sri Lanka peacekeepers are back in Haiti as part of international stabilization, but observers warn there’s no formal vetting system for deployed troops—raising accountability and civilian safety concerns. Corruption & Deportations: Former Haitian ombudsman Renan Hédouville was deported to face corruption charges tied to alleged embezzlement of nearly $130,000. U.S. TPS Fallout in the Haitian Diaspora: In Springfield, Ohio, faith leaders and residents are escalating pressure on U.S. lawmakers after TPS ended for Haitians, citing ICE ankle monitors and a surge in arrests; the community says the crackdown is driving fear and family disruption.

Back-to-School Relief: Haiti’s government rolled out a 2.5 billion-gourde cash-transfer plan for 140,000 parents (15,000 gourdes each) and expanded support for 30,000 vulnerable families, including school repairs, furniture, and added police presence for the 2026-2027 school year. Elections & Governance: Just over half a million Haitians have registered ahead of December elections, while CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group steps up engagement with Haiti as the political calendar tightens. UN Anti-Gang Mandate: The UN Security Council is set to decide soon on renewing Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force mandate, with renewed scrutiny on troop histories and the renewal talks led by the US and Panama. US Immigration Pressure on Haitians: In Springfield, Ohio, faith leaders and community members renewed demands to “unshackle” Haitian residents after TPS ended, citing ICE ankle monitors and continued enforcement; the UN human rights chief also urged accountability over deaths in US immigration custody and warned against removals to places like Haiti. Regional Security Spillover: Haiti’s deportation fallout continues, with people arriving in Cap-Haïtien stranded and facing gang-controlled routes, while Haiti also mourns victims of major gang attacks including the Kenscoff massacre. Haiti-Dominican Border Controls: The Dominican Republic expanded its smart border perimeter fence with Haiti, pushing completed sections past 61 kilometers and starting a new 14.5-kilometer phase in Jimaní. Faith & Peacebuilding: Haitian faith leaders and scholars held an international forum on religion’s role in building peace and nonkilling amid escalating violence.

Deportation Fallout in Haiti: Dozens of Haitians returned from the U.S. are arriving in Cap-Haïtien weekly, often broke and stranded as gangs control key roads and toll routes, leaving deportees with little money and no safe way to reach home. Gang Violence Spreads Beyond Port-au-Prince: A new report says Haiti’s armed gangs are increasingly moving into rural areas with hit-and-run raids, kidnappings, roadblocks, and cattle theft, while security forces struggle to respond across dispersed terrain. TPS Crisis Hits the Diaspora: In Brooklyn’s West Indian American Day Parade, Haitian marchers turned the holiday into a protest over the end of Temporary Protected Status, detention fears, and forced returns. UN Human Rights Pressure on U.S. Deportations: UN rights chief Volker Türk demanded accountability after 23 deaths in U.S. immigration custody in 2026 and urged Washington to halt removals to places like Haiti where people face “irreparable harm.” Regional Diplomacy: Haiti and the Dominican Republic keep pushing border and migration talks, including cooperation on security and judicial matters, as the Dominican Republic expands its border fence infrastructure.

UN Human Rights: UN rights chief Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council that 23 people have died in U.S. immigration custody in 2026 and demanded accountability, urging Washington to halt deportations to places where people face “irreparable harm,” including Haiti. Haiti Security & Elections: A new report says gangs are pushing beyond Port-au-Prince into rural areas with mobile hit-and-run raids, kidnappings, and roadblocks—raising pressure on a political process already threatened by insecurity ahead of Dec. 13 elections. U.S. TPS Fallout for Haitians: With Haiti’s TPS ended July 27, Haitian communities in the U.S. are bracing for disruption, including fears of chaotic returns and family separation; Haitian participation in New York’s Labor Day parade is described as both pride and protest amid detention and deportation fears. Diaspora & Community Life: Brooklyn’s West Indian Day Parade returns with Haitian masquerade groups and a solemn tone, while WIADCA’s VIP Breakfast highlights Caribbean leadership and Haitian cultural presence. Regional Diplomacy: Dominican and Haitian foreign ministers met in Dajabón to map a bilateral agenda on border governance, migration management, and judicial cooperation. Border Control: The Dominican Republic broke ground on a 14.5 km second phase of its smart border perimeter fence in Jimaní, expanding surveillance along the Haiti frontier.

UN Accountability on Deportations: UN High Commissioner Volker Türk demanded accountability for deaths in US immigration custody and urged Washington to halt removals to places like Haiti where people face “irreparable harm.” Haiti Elections Under Fire: A report highlights how gang violence and displacement are making Haiti’s Dec. 13 elections feel increasingly “fictional,” with candidates unable to campaign safely. TPS Fallout Hits Families: As Haiti’s TPS ends, Haitian caregivers and workers in the US face job loss and care gaps, including a Palm Beach County staffing crisis tied to the loss of work authorization. Springfield Crackdown: DHS says 380 arrests in Springfield, Ohio, after TPS ended—amid ongoing community fears and intensified ICE operations. Pierre Damas Bel Death Spurs Outrage: Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel’s suicide after losing TPS and being fitted with an ankle monitor is fueling calls for ICE reform and stronger protections. Forced Returns Pressure Haiti: Rights advocates warn nearly 200,000 Haitians were forcibly returned in 2026’s first eight months, straining Haiti’s already overwhelmed humanitarian system. Dominican Border Hardening: The Dominican Republic began building a 14.5-kilometer border fence with Haiti to curb smuggling and irregular crossings. Diaspora Culture, Political Mood: New York’s Labor Day parade will feature a major Haitian lineup under a somber cloud as TPS losses and deportations weigh on the community. Arms Flow Concern: Caribbean states face rising arms trafficking challenges, with most firearms traced back to the US. Slavery Reparations Push: Jamaica plans to petition King Charles III on slavery reparations—an issue resonating across the region’s political and legal debates.

US–Haiti Migration Pressure: Human rights groups say nearly 200,000 Haitians were forcibly returned in the first eight months of 2026, with the Dominican Republic responsible for most of the deportations—raising alarms that Haiti lacks the capacity to receive and reintegrate returnees. US Immigration Enforcement: In Springfield, Ohio, DHS says 380 people were arrested after Haiti TPS protections ended, as advocates warn ICE raids and ankle-monitoring policies are worsening fear and instability for Haitian families. TPS Fallout in the US: The death of Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel in Ohio has intensified calls to end ICE ankle monitoring and to reconsider deportation plans tied to TPS expirations. Dominican Border Crackdown: The Dominican Republic has started building a 14.5-kilometer border perimeter fence along its southern line with Haiti, citing smuggling and illegal trafficking as it adds watchtowers, culverts, and patrol lanes. Haiti–US Policy Link: The TPS crisis is unfolding alongside continued US deportation flights to Haiti, including a recent flight landing in Cap-Haïtien with more than 100 deportees.

Border Security: The Dominican Republic has started building a 14.5-kilometer perimeter fence in Jimaní, with a 13-foot height, surveillance towers, culverts, and patrol roads aimed at tightening control against trafficking and illicit activity near Haiti. U.S. Deportations & TPS Fallout: In Springfield, Ohio, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin says 380 arrests followed the end of Haiti TPS protections, as advocates warn the policy is worsening fear and humanitarian strain. Humanitarian Pressure in Haiti: Rights groups say nearly 200,000 Haitians were forcibly returned in the first eight months of 2026, mostly from the Dominican Republic, stressing Haiti’s limited capacity to receive and reintegrate returnees. ICE Scrutiny After Death: The death of Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel in Ohio—linked by family to distress from an ICE ankle monitor after TPS ended—has intensified calls for accountability and an end to ankle monitoring. Regional Diplomacy for Elections: CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group is in Haiti engaging political actors and stakeholders ahead of the Dec. 13 elections, urging coordination with regional and international partners. Security Planning: Haiti’s foreign minister urged the OAS to renew the Gang Suppression Force mandate as the Sept. 30 deadline nears, citing the need to regain territory and enable elections.

Haitian TPS Fallout in Ohio: Pierre Damas Bel, 20, died after stepping into traffic in Springfield, Ohio, days after ICE fitted him with a GPS ankle monitor following the end of Haiti’s Temporary Protected Status; his father said the device brought “shame and humiliation” and that he was treated “like an animal,” while DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said DHS followed procedures and blamed no one for the death. Mass Enforcement Push: Mullin also said ICE arrested 380 people in Springfield as TPS protections ended, adding that ICE will keep using ankle monitors and urging Haitians to return “on their own.” Deportations Accelerate: The U.S. deported more than 100 people to Haiti on a flight to Cap-Haïtien, described as a shift toward weekly removals as gangs control much of Port-au-Prince. Humanitarian Strain: Rights advocates warn that nearly 200,000 Haitians forcibly returned in the first eight months of 2026—mostly via the Dominican Republic—are overwhelming Haiti’s limited capacity to receive and reintegrate returnees. Regional Politics: CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group is in Haiti ahead of the Dec. 13 elections, meeting political actors and calling for coordination among regional and international partners. Security Governance: Haiti urged the OAS to renew the Gang Suppression Force mandate and fund completion of its planned 5,500-person deployment ahead of the election timeline.

Deportation Push & TPS Fallout: The U.S. deported 101 Haitians to Cap-Haïtien on a flight from Louisiana, with Human Rights First saying flights are shifting from monthly to weekly as TPS ends and ICE enforcement intensifies. Ohio Crackdown Backlash: DHS chief Markwayne Mullin told Springfield officials ICE made 380 arrests and said DHS will keep using ankle monitors, while also disputing responsibility for the death of Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel, whose family and advocates link his apparent suicide to TPS loss and monitor bullying. Gang-Security Politics: Haiti urged the OAS to renew the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force mandate and fully fund deployment of its 5,500 personnel ahead of a Sept. 30 expiration, tying the security push to restoring territory and enabling the Dec. 13 elections. Regional Election Diplomacy: CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group is in Haiti meeting parties and electoral stakeholders, with CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett stressing coordination with OAS and partners on a Haitian-led roadmap for stability. Faith-Led Peace Effort: Haitian faith leaders, lawmakers, and scholars are convening a virtual forum on “Peace, Nonkilling & Religion,” aiming to translate religious community leadership into practical violence prevention and reconciliation. Trade & Aid Continuity: U.S. extensions of Haiti’s HOPE/HELP and related trade programs through 2028 are being highlighted as a stability signal for regional exporters and investment planning.

Deportations & TPS Fallout: The U.S. carried out its third straight deportation flight to Haiti, sending 101 Haitians to Cap-Haïtien and bringing the total on three flights to 319, as Haiti struggles to absorb returnees amid escalating gang violence. Immigration Enforcement in the U.S.: In Springfield, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE made 380 arrests and will keep “pushing,” while defending the use of ankle monitors tied to the death of Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel, whose family and advocates blame ICE policy and bullying. Haiti Security & Elections: Haiti’s foreign minister urged the OAS to renew the international Gang Suppression Force mandate, saying it’s needed to regain territory ahead of the Dec. 13 elections. Regional Political Engagement: CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group is in Haiti meeting parties and stakeholders to support dialogue and election readiness. Electoral Process Dispute: Haitian parties are demanding the CEP suspend or review membership verification, alleging rejected IDs and members appearing on multiple party lists, threatening candidate registration for the Dec. 13 vote. Gang Violence Aftermath: In Kenscoff, mourners buried victims of the Aug. 23 massacre that killed 47 and involved mass kidnapping, with the government promising support for families.

Deportation Push: The U.S. sent another deportation flight to Haiti, landing 101 people in Cap-Haïtien after departing Louisiana; Human Rights First says it’s the third straight Thursday flight, with activists warning the pace is escalating amid gang control of much of Port-au-Prince. Gang Violence & Grief: In Kenscoff, mourners buried victims of the Aug. 23 massacre that killed 47 and kidnapped dozens, as Haiti’s Civil Protection said the area remains under “red alert.” Anti-Gang Security Politics: Haiti’s foreign minister urged the UN Security Council to renew the Gang Suppression Force mandate before it expires Sept. 30, arguing elections due Dec. 13 can’t happen without stronger international backing. Immigration Policy Fallout in the U.S.: Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel’s apparent suicide in Ohio after an ICE ankle monitor and TPS loss sparked renewed calls to end the monitors and criticized deportation policy. Crime & Borders: The U.S. Coast Guard seized over $2.4M in suspected marijuana from a go-fast boat, detaining four. Disaster Watch: A tropical wave hit Gonaïves with flooding and landslides, killing 1 and damaging about 1,500 homes.

U.S.-Haiti Security: The FAA extended restrictions on U.S. civilian flights over Port-au-Prince and parts of Haiti until March 2, 2027, citing armed-group threats to aircraft below 10,000 feet. Deportations and TPS Fallout: Despite the flight ban, the U.S. kept sending deportation flights—reporting a second charter in one week to Cap-Haïtien carrying 57 Haitians, including U.S.-born children, as TPS termination continues to drive arrests and removals. Local Governance and Finance: Haiti installed a new Board of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), tasking it with cutting inflation, stabilizing the economy, and modernizing the payment system. Cost of Living: Haiti announced higher fuel pump prices and, in response, increased public transport fares—raising pressure on households already squeezed by instability. Economic Push: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched a call for startups under an entrepreneurship and university incubator program, aiming to back innovation in areas like AI, agribusiness, and health. Faith and Peacebuilding: Haitian faith leaders and scholars convene a forum on how religious communities can help build a culture of peace and nonkilling amid violence and political breakdown. Human Rights and Community Impact (U.S.): In Ohio, Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel’s death after an ICE ankle-monitoring ordeal sparked renewed calls to end the monitoring program and drew attention to the mental toll of TPS ending.

Immigration & Human Rights: Haitian student Pierre Damas Bel’s apparent suicide in Ohio after being fitted with an ICE GPS ankle monitor has sparked vigils and renewed outrage, with family and supporters saying the device brought “shame and humiliation” and fueled bullying; local leaders and advocates are calling for an end to ankle monitoring and stronger action from U.S. officials. U.S.-Haiti Deportations: DHS sent a second deportation flight to Haiti in a week, including children born in the U.S., as TPS termination continues to drive more removals and detention fears. Trade & Jobs: The U.S. House voted to renew the HOPE/HELP trade programs for two more years through Dec. 31, 2028, extending duty-free access for thousands of Haitian textile/apparel lines—an economic lifeline tied to Dominican co-production. Haiti Governance & Economy: Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé installed the new BRH board and outlined priorities including cutting inflation, stabilizing the financial system, and modernizing payments. Security & Rule of Law: Haiti’s penal code and criminal procedure reforms are moving toward a Jan. 1, 2027 start, with training and implementation steps underway, while the UN and Haiti press for faster deployment of the Gang Suppression Force after the Kenscoff massacre. Energy & Cost of Living: Haiti revised fuel pump prices upward and raised public transport fares, linking the changes to petroleum market adjustments.

Haitian TPS Fallout in Ohio: Springfield, Ohio is reeling after 20-year-old Wright State student Pierre Damas Bel died in what family and advocates call suicide, saying weeks of bullying and a required ICE ankle monitor followed the end of Haiti’s TPS protections. U.S. Deportation Politics: Rep. Andrew Clyde publicly defended the TPS ending, calling it “TEMPORARY” and praising a removal flight to Haiti that DHS says included people with criminal convictions. Haiti Security Crisis: In Port-au-Prince’s Kenscoff, a UN-reported gang attack killed at least 47 people, including 22 executed in a church compound, as international calls grow for stronger security support. Trade & Jobs Signal: U.S. Congress approved a two-year extension of AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP, keeping duty-free access for Haitian apparel and textiles through 2028, with business groups urging longer-term certainty. Diplomatic Relief: Two South Korean workers kidnapped in Haiti were released unharmed after about a month in captivity, underscoring how gang violence disrupts foreign business operations.