States Must Empower and Protect Haitian Asylum Seekers: Putting an End to Racist Treatment

The Urgent Need for Ending Anti-Black Discrimination Against Haitian Asylum Seekers in the Americas

The Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis Facing Haitian Asylum Seekers

Amnesty International has called upon states across the Americas to immediately end the anti-Black discrimination experienced by Haitian people seeking safety and international protection. The organization highlights that racist migration and asylum policies only serve to exacerbate the harm already inflicted upon individuals forced to endure and flee the humanitarian and human rights crises in Haiti.

The Americas region is currently experiencing one of the world’s most severe crises in terms of people in need of international protection. According to a recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), six of the top ten source countries of asylum applications in 2022 were from Latin America and the Caribbean. Asylum seekers from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Honduras, and Haiti have witnessed a substantial increase compared to the previous year.

In the case of Haiti, the deteriorating human rights situation has led thousands of individuals to flee the country in order to save their lives and those of their loved ones. However, instead of receiving solidarity from other countries in the Americas, Haitians have faced acts of racism, xenophobia, and systematic violence in their search for protection.

Systemic Discrimination and Violations of Human Rights

Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of assaults, arbitrary detentions, torture, and other ill-treatment, as well as mass deportations and discriminatory practices that undermine the human rights of Haitian asylum seekers in Peru, Chile, the Dominican Republic, the United States, Mexico, and other countries in the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Haitians transiting through the Americas have been denied access to basic services and legal protection. These precarious conditions have been further exacerbated by the systemic racism and negative stereotypes they face, hindering their integration and perpetuating their marginalization. Haitian women, girls, and LGBTI people face even higher levels of discrimination as Black migrants and asylum-seekers, as they are exposed to the threat of gender-based violence in addition to the dangers faced by their peers.

The United States‘ Policies and the CBP One App

Amnesty International specifically highlights concerns regarding the United States government’s decision to make the use of the mobile application CBP One mandatory for requesting asylum at the nation’s southern border. The organization argues that this requirement places Haitian individuals at a greater disadvantage, as they are more likely to face racial discrimination and violence in northern Mexico. Haitians are often excluded from shelters, forcing them to live in camps with inhumane conditions and exposing them to even greater danger.

In addition, the facial recognition technology used by the CBP One app struggles to recognize Black faces, raising further concerns about privacy, discrimination, and surveillance. This exacerbates the challenges faced by Haitian asylum seekers and adds to their vulnerability.

Amnesty International also criticizes the agreement between the United States and Canada to expand the Safe Third Country Agreement instead of rescinding it. This agreement places refugees, including those from Haiti, at further risk while they await legal challenges against the agreement. The organization expresses disappointment in the Canadian Supreme Court for failing to definitively rule that the agreement violates refugees’ rights.

Protecting Haitian Asylum Seekers: A Call for Regional Solidarity and Reform

The urgent situation faced by Haitian asylum seekers in the Americas calls for immediate action by governments in the region. Amnesty International emphasizes the need to end mass expulsions, deportations, and racially discriminatory practices against individuals in need of international protection, including Haitians.

States must fulfill their international human rights obligations without discrimination and ensure fair and effective asylum procedures that assess the protection needs of Haitians seeking refuge. Furthermore, regional solidarity and the reformation of migration policies from an anti-racist perspective are crucial in addressing the grave dangers and injustices faced by Haitian asylum seekers.

Conclusion: Upholding Dignity and Rights Amidst Crisis

The plight of Haitian asylum seekers in the Americas demands urgent attention. Anti-Black discrimination, racism, and xenophobia against Haitians must be eradicated, and their dignity and rights must be protected. States in the region have a responsibility to uphold the principles enshrined in the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and the Cartagena Declaration, providing access to protection without discrimination and ensuring fair assessment processes for refugee status.

Regional solidarity is essential in addressing the complex challenges faced by Haitian asylum seekers, as well as other individuals in need of international protection in the Americas. By working together to reform migration policies with an anti-racist perspective, states can empower migrants, prevent further harm, and uphold the values of justice and equality.

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