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Haiti Gang Violence Sparks U.S. Visa Crackdown

Visa Restrictions Imposed on Haitian Government Official

A man in a red shirt pushes a wooden cart loaded with white sacks along a debris-strewn urban street, while thick black smoke billows from orange flames of burning barricades in the background; another man in beige pants stands nearby with a backpack, and several pedestrians including a woman in pink and a motorcyclist are visible amid colorful buildings and scattered trash in what appears to be a Haitian neighborhood.
Residents navigate burning barricades and smoke-filled streets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as gang violence disrupts daily life, prompting U.S. visa restrictions on a supporting official.

The Department of State announced measures to apply visa restrictions on a Haitian government official for supporting gangs and other criminal organizations, as well as hindering Haiti’s efforts to address terrorist gangs designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This action is being carried out under INA 212(a)(3)(C), which generally restricts entry for individuals whose presence or planned activities could pose serious adverse foreign policy impacts for the United States. The Department will also revoke any valid visas currently held by the individual.

Scope of the Policy

The policy, initially introduced in October 2022, applies to individuals and their family members who offer financial or material backing to gangs and criminal networks operating in Haiti.

U.S. Commitment to Haiti

The United States has reiterated its support for Haiti’s stability and its expectation of tangible progress toward free and fair elections. According to the announcement, the Haitian population has endured prolonged gang violence, destruction, and political disputes. The Trump Administration stated that it will advance accountability measures for those contributing to instability in Haiti and the surrounding region.

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