ROME — Leslie Voltaire, who leads Haiti’s transitional presidential council, expressed grave concerns regarding the impact of aid suspensions and the new immigration policies set forth by the Trump administration, characterizing them as “catastrophic” for Haiti’s future. Voltaire made these remarks during a recent interview in Rome after a significant meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, where he sought assistance for his country.
“I’m reaching out to those who genuinely care about Haiti. The pope has a compassionate interest in Haiti and is ready to help,” stated Voltaire, the interim president of Haiti. Their conversation also revolved around the alarming humanitarian crisis unfolding in Haiti, which has seen rampant gang violence leading to civilian deaths. Half of the population, which totals around 11.4 million, is reportedly living in hunger, and a termination of humanitarian aid could lead to an even more dire scenario.
Voltaire noted a particularly concerning statement made by Trump, in which he described Haiti derogatively, indicating a lack of concern from the former president regarding the country’s plight. The current policies have resulted in the weekly repatriation of thousands from the Dominican Republic, exacerbating an already precarious situation marked by gang violence and insecurity.
During his presidency, Donald Trump’s use of explicit language questioning the acceptance of immigrants from Haiti and certain African countries drew widespread attention. Although the White House did not explicitly deny his comments, it claimed that Trump supported policies welcoming immigrants who could contribute positively to society.
According to Voltaire, there are approximately 1.5 million Haitians currently residing in the United States, with around 150,000 under a temporary protection program. Trump’s assertions about expelling these individuals alarm Voltaire, who emphasized that Haiti’s existing issues with hunger and displacement make it ill-equipped to handle a sudden influx of returnees.
A recent report from the U.N. migration agency indicates that internal displacement in Haiti has reached alarming levels, now exceeding one million people. This surge has largely been attributed to escalating gang violence throughout the nation, marking a record high for displacement, as noted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The IOM reported that the continuous violence in Port-au-Prince has nearly doubled the displacement figures in the city, leading to a collapse in healthcare, services, and a rise in food shortages.
Voltaire’s transitional government faces the challenging task of guiding Haiti toward general elections, a goal that has proven elusive. Despite this, he remains hopeful that elections could be held by November, contingent upon bolstering the multinational police force aimed at restoring order in the nation plagued by gangs controlling 85% of the capital.
Kenya is currently spearheading the multinational police force with an initial deployment of over 600 officers, although this number falls short of the 1,000 officers promised. Additional troops from Guatemala and Salvador have arrived, yet the force is substantially below the expected total of 2,500 personnel. Voltaire cited Benin’s commitment to supply an extra 2,000 soldiers to support the mission.
“We need to conduct a referendum for a new constitution and hold elections by the end of November. I believe we can achieve this because we control about 80% of the country,” he mentioned, emphasizing a strong belief in his government’s capability to facilitate the elections despite daunting challenges.
Gang influence has surged dramatically since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, with some groups indicating a desire to participate in Haiti’s political scene, a notion Voltaire rejects outright, labeling them as criminals unworthy of a place at the negotiation table.
Last year, more than 5,600 homicides were reported across Haiti, marking a troubling increase of over 20% compared to previous totals as per the United Nations Human Rights Office. Recently, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres cautioned that without additional international support for Haiti’s national police, the gangs may soon take complete control of Port-au-Prince, leading to an irreversible breakdown of government authority.
In his meeting with the pope, Voltaire urged for an international conference centered on solidarity with Haiti. The pope showed support by noting “international conference” on a piece of paper, with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin later indicating that the Vatican would reach out to Mexico and Canada to rally funding for a conference focused on aiding the crisis in Haiti.
