American Airlines will no longer have flights to Haiti in February, as gang violence has allegedly worsened in the Caribbean country, creating unsafe conditions for the airline and its passengers. A spokesperson for the airline said in a statement that it will continue to evaluate a possible return to service of a daily flight from Miami International Airport into Haiti in the interim.
“American Airlines has made the difficult decision to suspend daily service between Miami (MIA) and Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP),” the spokesperson said. “We are proud of our more than 50-year-commitment to Haiti and we will continue to monitor the situation, assessing safety, security, and customer demand, in evaluating a return of service. We will proactively reach out to impacted customers to offer a full refund of their travel itinerary.”
American Airlines was among several airlines, also including Spirit and JetBlue, to have already temporarily halted operations to and from Haiti after Spirit and JetBlue planes were hit by gunfire last month amid growing civil unrest.
The United Nations has said at least 4,500 people have been reported killed in Haiti this year, with more than 2,000 others injured. Since Nov. 11, hundreds of people have been killed or wounded, and 42,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to UNICEF.
Haitian Immigrants in the US
Simultaneous to Haiti becoming an unsafe area for many residents and civilians, President-Elect Donald Trump and his entire cabinet have sought to demonize Haitian immigrants in the US.
Infamously, during a debate with Democratic Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, Donald Trump accused Haitian immigrants of “eating cats and eating dogs” in small towns across the US. As was later revealed, these claims (perpetuated by Trump and his Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance excessively) were entirely unfounded and had no basis whatsoever.
As a direct result of Trump’s violent rhetoric, there were numerous bomb threats, shooting threats, and more directed at schools in these areas in the weeks following the debate. While the internet took to turning Trump’s goofy accusations into a meme on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, the lasting ramifications of his derogatory statements against Haitian immigrants have been far more grave than many could have imagined.
Now, heading into his second term, Trump is swearing to deport such immigrants, and doing so with Haitian immigrants could be a death sentence for many.
Accusations of Violence in Haiti
On Sunday, the National Human Rights Defense Network said a gang murdered at least 110 people over the age of 60 in Haiti’s Cite Soleil slum when its leader suspected they caused his child’s illness through witchcraft, Reuters reported. Gang members used machetes and knives to carry out the deadly violence, the organization said.
Turmoil in the country has extended to its leadership as Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille was ousted from office last month and replaced with businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. The US government has long discouraged civilian travel into Haiti due to violence and political upheaval in the country.
“The security situation in Haiti is unpredictable and dangerous. Travel within Haiti is conducted at your own risk,” the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince said last month. “The US government cannot guarantee your safety traveling to airports, borders, or during any onward travel. You should consider your personal security situation before traveling anywhere in Haiti.”
As Trump takes office for the second time in January 2025, the United States’ global relations will undoubtedly continue to evolve in unprecedented and unexpected ways. Sadly, the state of Haiti and the impending status of the country’s immigrants here in the US are indicative of numerous immigrants who, if Trump is to be believed, will have their citizenship hanging in the balance come 2025.
