A Shame Before God: US special envoy to Haiti resigns over 'inhumane decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees'
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(EEW Magazine Newswire) Scripture says that we are to care for immigrants and those in need, which is why many Christians’ recoiled at the viral images of Texas Border Patrol on horseback chasing Haitian asylum-seekers, using horse reins as whips—a sight that caused many to mutter, this is a shame before God.
Amid the upheaval and controversy over the Biden administration’s decision to deport thousands of refugees and deny them refuge from their homeland currently wracked by civil strife and natural disaster, the special envoy to Haiti has resigned, protesting “inhumane” large-scale expulsions, U.S. officials said Thursday.
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Daniel Foote, whose conscience and basic human decency compelled him to distance himself from this whole debacle, was appointed to the position only in July, following the assassination of Haiti’s president. Even before images from the small Texas border town of Del Rio showing white men in cowboy hats cracking whips and coldly grabbing innocent Haitian children surfaced online, the career diplomat was already frustrated with what he considered a lack of urgency in Washington and the slow pace of efforts to improve conditions in Haiti.
Foote wrote Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he was stepping down immediately “with deep disappointment and apologies to those seeking crucial changes.”
“I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs to daily life,” he wrote. “Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my policy recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own.”
A precious young girl stands in the place that she currently calls home—a makeshift camp under the Del Rio bridge in Texas (Credit: REUTERS)
Two U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed the resignation on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
One official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters said that Foote had consistently sought greater oversight of Haiti policy and that the administration did not believe his requests were appropriate.
Foote’s sudden departure leaves a void in U.S. policy toward Haiti and adds another prominent, critical voice to the administration’s response to Haitians camped on the Texas border. The camp has shrunk considerably since surpassing more than 14,000 people on Saturday – many of them expelled and many released in the U.S. with notices to report to immigration authorities.
The White House is facing sharp bipartisan condemnation. Democrats and many pro-immigration groups say efforts to expel thousands of Haitians without a chance to seek asylum violates American principles. The outrage is also fueled by viral images of agents using aggressive tactics against the migrants.
The expulsion flights to Haiti began Sunday and there were 10 by the end of Tuesday, according to Haitian officials. U.S. officials say they are ramping up to seven flights a day, which would mark one of the swiftest, large-scale expulsions from the U.S. in decades.
Foote served previously in Haiti as deputy chief of mission and is a former ambassador to Zambia. In new role, he worked with the U.S. ambassador to support Haiti after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
