U.S. Fast-Tracked Deportation of Some Haitians, Some Allowed to Stay

09.22.21
U.S. Fast-Tracked Deportation of Some Haitians, Some Allowed to Stay (Photo: A U.S. Border Patrol agent on horseback tries to stop a Haitian migrant from entering an encampment in Del Rio, Texas. | Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images)

With the increase of Haitian immigrants at the Texas/Mexico border, flights for deportation to Haiti were accelerated for some while others were allowed to stay after reaching U.S. soil. 

Many Haitians fled to the U.S. after they experienced a 7.2 earthquake in that ravaged the country as well as the assassination of the president, Jovenel Moïse. Both happened in August.

Del Rio, Texas became a site for migrant camps and has been overwhelmed by the thousands of immigrants coming from Haiti, Mexico and other Central American countries.

U.S. Border Patrol agents took drastic measures to capture migrants, including riding horseback with lassos to corral those trying to cross the border. 

A United States Border Patrol agent on horseback uses the reins to try and stop a Haitian migrant from entering an encampment on the banks of the Rio Grande near the Acuna Del Rio International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas. | Photo by Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images

Chaos erupted at airports in Texas and Port-au-Prince. Some migrants allegedly injured ICE agents after realizing they were being deported and some tried to get back on the plane to return to the U.S.

Expelled migrants arrive on Sept. 19, 2021 at the airport in Port au Prince. After weeks on the road, traversing mountains and jungles, risking assault and drowning, thousands of Haitian migrants hoping to reach the United States, instead found themselves stranded in Mexico and returned to Haiti. | Photo by Richard Pierrin/AFP via Getty Images

Many were released in the U.S. and told to appear within 60 days at an immigration office. The decision for the release, without a defined criteria for those who stay and made to return, will likely add to criticism of the White House, according to the Associated Press.

Immigration has been an ongoing issue for the United States at the Mexican border. As recent as July, over 200,000 migrants were detained for the first time in 21 years, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforcement data. 

Last year, 227 migrants died trying to cross over into the United States through Arizona according to NPR.

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