Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s 90-day halt of foreign funding – including a freeze on a $15 million committed contribution for the United Nations (U.N.) Kenya-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti:
“We are deeply disappointed that the Trump Administration is halting necessary and life-saving assistance to Haiti, which continues to grapple with an ongoing political, security, and humanitarian crisis. Under the Biden Administration, the U.S. committed to over $15 million in aid for Haiti through the U.N. trust fund. However, only $1.7 million has already been spent – restricting access to over $13 million,” said the Co-Chairs.
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“This decision comes at the absolute worst time, especially for Haitian nationals who are now at risk of losing their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under this administration – putting them back into a very volatile and dangerous environment. We have a responsibility to honor the commitment we made to support Haitian stability and the safety of all its people. We cannot send Haitians who have sought legal refuge in the U.S. back to a country overrun by gangs and violence without assistance and taking every effort to ensure their safety.”
The United Nations released a statement with concern over the freezing of US assistance. The statement added the Mr. Guterres was looking forward to engaging with the Trump administration on how “much needed development support” can be provided to citizens in the developing world who face the severest challenges.
Michael Deibert, author of “Notes From the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti,” and “Haiti Will Not Perish: A Recent History” said, “The international security mission in Haiti was already facing very great odds; it was already very short staffed. With this withdrawal of aid, it will make their job there even harder.”
