Détails

Catégorie : Les Toutes Dernières

Création : 28 Août 2026

Jacqueline Charles Updated August 20, 2026 7:34 PM
More than 160 Haitian nationals were deported from the U.S. to Haiti on Thursday aboard an Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight, the first since the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status last month for more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States.
The aircraft landed shortly before noon in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s second-largest city. It was the eight deportation flight from the United States to Haiti this year and also the first since U.S. officials warned Haitian authorities to expect an increase in removals following the end of the protections that had shielded their nationals in the United States. The U.S. said it would increase flights to twice a week, returning about 250 Haitians weekly.
The ICE Air flight originated in Alexandria, Lousiana. Prior to that, a flight landed in Haiti on July 16 with a number of deportees with criminal records. A scheduled flight shortly after was canceled due to technical issues.
The first U.S. deportation flight arrived in Haiti on Thursday, August 20, 2026, since the Trump administration terminated Temporary Protected Status for more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States. Gérard Maxineau
Haiti’s National Office of Migration had initially expected 175 people aboard the aircraft, but director general Jean Négot Bonheur Delva said there were 161 adults, correcting an earlier statement that there were children as well.
Among them were individuals placed in removal proceedings after entering the United States illegally as well as deportees who had completed prison sentences or had been arrested and charged with crimes.
Also among them, Delva said, were people who were born outside of Haiti but were sent to the country because they had a parent who was Haitian. This included individuals born in Chile as well as the Dominican Republic. Upon arriving, the returnees are greeted by the National Migration Office staff and given the equivalent of $76.40 to get home, courtesy of the Haitian government.
The amount isn’t enough to cover a one-way ticket to Port-au-Prince, which is around $250. However, it will help some people get through gang-controlled roads, which come with their own risks.
The increase in deportations comes as Haiti struggles with gang-fueled violence and a humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this week, a task force using explosive drones targeted one of the country’s more notorious gang leaders, Vitel’homme Innocent, who is wanted by the FBI for crimes committed against U.S. citizens. However, even though the drone hit a vehicle he was in, he apparently survived the attack.
Asked Thursday about the impact of the end of TPS on United Nations agencies in Haiti, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, said the global entity was already struggling to respond to multiple crises in the Caribbean nation.
“The U.N. team in Haiti is stretched,” he said, “but our colleagues on the ground are doing whatever they can to support the government as people are being forcibly returned home, again, in a place where there is a huge lack of security, a lack of opportunity, and a very, very dangerous situation.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2026 at 5:14 PM.

Détails

Catégorie : Les Toutes Dernières

Création : 28 Août 2026

The Cap-Haïtien native and longtime educator will face Katrina Wilson on Nov. 3 for the vacant District 1 seat, with a victory making her the first Haitian American elected to the U.S. third-largest county’s school board
by Fritznel D. Octave Aug. 20, 2026
Cothière’s campaign
Overview:
Linda Cothière, who describes herself as a proud Miami-Dade public school product, has advanced to a runoff that could make her the county’s first Haitian American school board member. With no candidate clearing the 50% threshold to win the seat outright, top contenders Cothière and Katrina Wilson are locked in a Nov. 3 election to decide who becomes the next school board member representing the predominantly Black North Dade district — including a large Haitian population.
MIAMI — Linda Cothière, a Haitian-born public school educator who has spent more than three decades working in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, is one election away from potentially becoming the first Haitian American elected to the county’s nine-member school board.
Cothière advanced to a Nov. 3 runoff against Katrina Wilson, another longtime’s Miami-Dade educator, for the vacant District 1 seat after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in Tuesday’s nonpartisan election. Wilson finished first with 33% of the vote, while Cothière received 21%, according to results reported after the Aug. 18 vote.
“I don’t take this opportunity for granted and the responsibility that comes with it lightly,” Cothière said in an exclusive interview with The Haitian Times, describing her candidacy as one grounded in integrity, respect and service.
“As I have never let my mother down as a daughter, I will not let my community down,” she added. “Children first, parental collaboration always.”
The race carries particular significance for South Florida’s Haitian-heavy community because a Cothière victory would put a Haitian American on the board overseeing one of the nation’s largest public school districts. District 1 includes North Miami, North Miami Beach, Biscayne Gardens and Opa-locka, areas with substantial Haitian populations.
But Cothière is campaigning on a broader message than ethnic representation. She said she wants to represent all District 1 families, using her experience as an educator to address teacher pay, school safety, declining enrollment, parental involvement and how district resources are allocated.
The mother of two said her Haitian background is an important part of her story but does not define the diverse constituency she hopes to serve.
“I am not running just for the Haitian community,” she said. “I am running for District 1.”
That distinction could be important in a district that also includes large African American, Caribbean, Latino and other communities.
Her campaign plans to increase direct voter outreach before the November runoff through door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, community visits and other efforts aimed at building relationships with voters.

Détails

Catégorie : Les Toutes Dernières

Création : 28 Août 2026

Le Floridien
August 19, 2026
Former Florida State Senator Daphne Campbell, the first Haitian-American elected to the Florida Senate, has staged a political comeback with her victory in the Democratic primary for Florida House District 108. Her return to the political forefront comes despite 'influential voices' within the Haitian-American community backing a new generation of leadership.
By Dessalines Ferdinand
Former Florida State Senator Daphne Campbell’s victory in the Democratic primary for Florida House District 108 is more than another political comeback. It deserves to be examined as a message from voters — particularly Haitian-American voters — about the limits of political endorsements, organized opposition and the influence of what might be described as South Florida’s Haitian-American political establishment.
Campbell entered the race with a major advantage her opponent could not claim: a proven legislative record in Tallahassee. She represented District 108 in the Florida House from 2010 to 2016, serving three terms before winning election to the Florida Senate in 2016. That victory made Campbell the first Haitian-American elected to the Florida State Senate, an important milestone in the growth of Haitian-American political representation in Florida.
Yet during the 2026 campaign, that history and experience sometimes appeared secondary to a broader desire among some influential political figures within the Haitian-American community to move beyond Campbell and embrace a new generation of leadership.
Her principal opponent, Dinah Escarment, presented herself as “generational change” and “new blood.” She entered the contest with meaningful institutional and political support. Escarment served as vice president of the Miami-Dade Democratic Haitian Caucus, and outgoing District 108 Representative Dotie Joseph endorsed her candidacy. North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, another Haitian-American elected official, also endorsed Escarment.
According to reliable sources, other well-known figures in South Florida’s political and media circles also supported Escarment, including former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime, former North Miami Mayor Andre Pierre, radio personality Lesly Prudent and Naomi Blemur, herself an unsuccessful candidate in two previous elections.
Taken together, their support reinforced the perception that a significant segment of the Haitian-American political establishment had coalesced around Escarment and a new generation of leadership rather than Campbell’s return to Tallahassee.
The voters had a different answer.
A Political Record That Could Not Simply Be Erased
Whatever one thinks about Campbell — and her political career has certainly not been free of controversy — her years of service in Tallahassee cannot simply be erased from the discussion.
But another, more uncomfortable question deserves to be asked: Has Campbell been judged by some within the so-called Haitian-American political establishment not only for her politics, but also for the way she speaks, looks and presents herself?
For years, critics have scrutinized her manner of speaking, appearance and public presentation in ways that, at times, seem to overshadow a more substantive examination of her legislative record and what she actually delivered for the communities she represented.
If image, accent, appearance or conformity to a certain idea of what a political leader should look and sound like played any role in efforts to marginalize Campbell, then the issue goes far beyond one politician. It raises troubling questions about class, social status, elitism and respectability politics within our own community.
Campbell had already learned how Tallahassee works. She understood legislative negotiations, committee structures and the realities of trying to secure resources and attention for a South Florida district.
Her political trajectory itself demonstrated that experience. After first winning House District 108 in 2010, she survived subsequent political challenges, won reelection and eventually moved from the House to the Senate.

Détails

Catégorie : Les Toutes Dernières

Création : 18 Août 2026

August 16, 2026 Israel International VBI
Le Secrétaire général de l’Organisation des États américains (OEA), Albert R. Ramdin, est arrivé ce dimanche en Haïti à la tête d’une importante délégation réunissant plusieurs partenaires régionaux et internationaux. Cette visite intervient dans un contexte particulièrement sensible, marqué par les enjeux de sécurité, de transition politique, de gouvernance, de renforcement institutionnel et de préparation des élections.

Port-au-Prince, dimanche 16 août 2026 —
Au cours de son séjour, Albert Ramdin doit rencontrer les autorités haïtiennes ainsi que plusieurs acteurs politiques et sociaux engagés dans la recherche de solutions à la crise que traverse le pays. Ces échanges devraient notamment porter sur la sécurité, la transition, le processus électoral et la coordination de l’aide internationale.
Une visite de l’OEA placée sous le signe du dialogue
La visite d’Albert Ramdin en Haïti s’inscrit dans la volonté de l’Organisation des États américains (OEA) de renforcer son accompagnement du processus haïtien. En juin dernier, le Secrétaire général avait annoncé son intention de se rendre dans le pays afin de poursuivre les consultations avec les autorités nationales, les acteurs politiques et sociaux, les partenaires régionaux et la communauté internationale.
La délégation qui accompagne le responsable de l’OEA doit contribuer à renforcer la coordination entre les différents partenaires impliqués dans la réponse à la crise haïtienne. Les discussions prévues devraient également permettre d’identifier les priorités et les actions à mener dans les prochains mois.
Parmi les principaux sujets au programme figurent la transition politique, la stabilisation du pays, la sécurité, le renforcement des institutions et l’organisation des prochaines élections.
L’OEA veut soutenir une solution haïtienne …
Depuis plusieurs mois, l’OEA affirme vouloir inscrire son action en Haïti dans une démarche de soutien aux initiatives portées par les acteurs haïtiens. En mai dernier, Albert Ramdin avait présenté aux États membres de l’organisation les avancées réalisées dans l’accompagnement du pays.
Cette intervention concerne notamment la facilitation du dialogue politique, la préparation électorale, la sécurité et la coordination de l’aide internationale.
L’OEA s’est également engagée à soutenir la mise en œuvre de la Feuille de route pour la stabilité et la paix en Haïti. Ce cadre vise à coordonner les efforts autour de plusieurs priorités nationales, notamment la sécurité, la gouvernance démocratique, les élections, le renforcement institutionnel et la mobilisation des ressources.
L’objectif affiché est de favoriser le passage des engagements et des annonces à des actions concrètes susceptibles d’avoir un impact sur la situation du pays.
La sécurité et les élections au cœur des discussions
La situation sécuritaire en Haïti devrait occuper une place importante dans les discussions entre Albert Ramdin et ses interlocuteurs haïtiens. Ces derniers mois, l’OEA a indiqué vouloir renforcer son appui au pays dans plusieurs domaines liés à la sécurité.
Cet accompagnement porte notamment sur le renforcement des capacités de la Police nationale d’Haïti (PNH), la formation spécialisée, les enquêtes financières, la sécurité maritime et portuaire ainsi que l’appui à la composante civile de la force internationale engagée dans la lutte contre les gangs.
Le processus électoral haïtien constitue également un dossier majeur. L’OEA accompagne les autorités compétentes grâce à son expertise technique dans le domaine électoral et à son dialogue avec le Conseil électoral provisoire.
Pour Albert Ramdin, une stabilité durable en Haïti passe par le rétablissement d’institutions démocratiques solides et par la tenue d’élections crédibles, inclusives et pacifiques. En juin, il avait réaffirmé que la transition devait servir de pont vers le rétablissement de la sécurité, la restauration de la confiance dans les institutions, le retour à l’ordre constitutionnel et l’organisation des élections.
Une visite à forte portée diplomatique
Au-delà des rencontres officielles, l’arrivée du Secrétaire général de l’OEA revêt une importance diplomatique particulière. La composition de la délégation traduit la volonté de renforcer la concertation entre Haïti et ses partenaires régionaux et internationaux.
Albert R. Ramdin, diplomate surinamais et ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères du Suriname, dirige l’OEA depuis mai 2025. Il est le premier ressortissant d’un État membre de la Communauté des Caraïbes (CARICOM) à occuper le poste de Secrétaire général de l’organisation.
Sa visite intervient alors que la dimension régionale de la crise haïtienne prend une importance croissante. Pour l’OEA, l’un des principaux objectifs est de faciliter le dialogue entre les différents acteurs, de rapprocher les positions et de contribuer à transformer les engagements internationaux en actions concrètes.
Quels résultats pour la visite d’Albert Ramdin en Haïti ?
Les prochains jours devraient permettre de mesurer la portée des consultations menées par le Secrétaire général de l’OEA. Pour Haïti, l’enjeu consiste désormais à transformer les discussions diplomatiques en avancées concrètes.
Uguenson Auguste
Vant Bèf Info (VBI)