Potential Haitian Migration Crisis

SOURCE www.aol.com
The potential collapse of Haiti’s government has not yet prompted a surge of desperate Haitians to take to the seas for South Florida’s shores, but U.S. officials fear that trend could rapidly change due to escalating violence and border disputes. The Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation to address potential migration surges.

Key Points

  • Monitoring online chatter, Coast Guard tracking, and intelligence collection to assess potential migration surges
  • Concerns over a surge in sea crossings persist in the Biden administration since the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse
  • Haitians are eligible for a two-year humanitarian program to come to the U.S. legally with a financial sponsor and background check

Pros

  • U.S. officials have not seen indications of a mass movement of people north for migration
  • Efforts are being made to monitor and address potential migration surges before they reach the U.S. southwest border

Cons

  • Escalating violence and border disputes in Haiti could trigger a surge of people taking to the seas for migration
  • Thousands of migrants have previously evaded Coast Guard patrols to reach South Florida