“Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ.”
Pope Francis, Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2018
Deportation and the human cost
When people flee violence and seek safety, our response must begin with human dignity. The growing deportation crisis facing Haitian immigrants asks us a difficult question: Should people be returned to a country where their lives may be in danger?
Haiti is experiencing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 1.45 million people were internally displaced in Haiti and forced to leave their homes because of gang violence. By mid-2025, gangs were estimated to control more than 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and nearly half the population faced acute food insecurity.
Meanwhile, Haitian immigrants in the United States face uncertainty as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) protections are terminated, putting eligible people at risk of deportation. Many have built lives, raised children and contributed to their communities here. Returning people to dangerous conditions threatens their safety, separates families and places additional pressure on communities already struggling to meet urgent humanitarian needs.
What can we do?
- Watch and share: View PBS FRONTLINE’s Haiti Deportation Crisis to learn about conditions in Haiti and the impact of deportation policies.
- Contact Congress: Ask your U.S. senators and representatives to support protections for Haitian families and humane immigration policies. Find their contact information at Congress.gov.
- Support Haitian-led advocacy: Visit the Haitian Bridge Alliance to learn about its work defending the rights and dignity of Black migrants.
- Learn more: Explore the IOM’s Haiti Crisis Response Plan and the United Nations’ reporting on Haiti to understand the scale of the crisis and the needs of displaced families.
Did you know?
More than 1 in every 8 children worldwide lives in a conflict-affected area, according to UNICEF. Behind every statistic is a child whose education, safety and sense of home may have been shattered by violence. Children forced to flee often face interrupted schooling, family separation and the loss of basic necessities. Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every child’s dignity is not determined by where they were born or what their family can afford. Support children caught in humanitarian crises by exploring UNICEF’s work for children affected by conflict. Learn about urgent needs and share these resources to help keep vulnerable children in the public eye.