“And the king will answer them, ʻI tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Yesterday, heard the news that after reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that Haiti no longer met the conditions for designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and terminated TPS Status for Haiti. And I am sorry, and I do not cuss to often, but when I heard the news I but I actually yelled out loud at the TV “What the F#ck are we doing?” I was so mad! I was so sad and disheartened. And that feeling continues this morning.
Because of this termination of TPS for Haiti, now the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has made plans to ramp up operations to arrest and deport Haitian migrants, as more than 300,000 Haitians brace for the termination of their legal status and prepare to lose deportation protections and work permits under the TPS.
The plans include arresting migrants in Ohio — where large Haitian communities in cities like Springfield have been targeted by President Trump and conservative politicians and commentators — and quickly putting them on deportation flights to back to crisis-stricken Haiti. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Mr. Trump amplified baseless claims that Haitians in Springfield were eating cats and dogs.
Yet when you go to the US State Department’s website on tourism, the website gives everyone these strong warnings on travel to Haiti:
Do Not Travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest, and limited health care.
Violent crime is rampant in Haiti..There has been an increase in gangs, organized crime, and terrorist activities.
• Crimes involving firearms are common.
• Crimes include robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, and kidnappings for ransom.
• The escalation of fighting between armed groups has led to a rise in random gunfire incidents. There is risk of being struck by stray bullets, even for people not directly involved in the violence.
• Local law enforcement has an extremely limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
Kidnapping is widespread. U.S. citizen victims of kidnapping have been hurt or killed.
Terrorist violence, including attacks on citizens and other violent gang activity, happens frequently in Haiti.
• Armed, anti-gang vigilante groups attack and, in many cases, kill U.S. citizens. This is when they suspect someone of being a gang member based only on rumors or incorrect information.
• “Watch groups” often harass or detain people who are not known to be residents of their neighborhoods.
• Hospitals and clinics in Haiti have limited trained staff and lack basic resources.
Medical providers almost alw ays require payment in cash before treatment.
So our government is strongly warning it’s US citizens because of the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, robbery, carjackings, sexual assault, gang activity, killings, and unrest, that under no circumstances are we to travel to Haiti, or allow our spouses, parents, or children to travel to Haiti. Yet at the same time it is saying it is ok to forcefully arrest, deport the black, poorest of the poor Haitian spouses, parents, and children who somehow managed to successfully flee Haiti, back to the living hell that is Haiti. That hypocrisy is so racially motivated, so anti- humanitarian, so anti- Biblical it saddens me and makes me sick! And our government is doing this on the celebration of our countries 250th anniversary of the land of the free! A country that declares in its Declaration of Independence, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all persons are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unaliable rights, of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Last fall I watched the videos of Hurricane Melissa when it slammed into Jamaica and Haiti. It showed many slums of people forced by the violence and unrest in Haiti to live in make shift homes made out of cardboard boxes and plastic. The hurricane just obliterated these people. One video interviewed a man who lived in a slum that survived. He was desolated. He said he wanted to die. He said he has no food, no place to live, no help, no safety and living is just to hard. My heart broke for him and the thousands like him. I prayed for them and wished there was a way I could rescue him and his family and bring them here into my home. And now our country is forcefully returning those who made it out of that hell.
I believe in and know we need to protect our borders. ICE was supposedly created to arrest and deport criminals and murders that entered our country. So why are we now going to waist and spend millions of dollars on operations to arrest, transport, airline flights, and deport the poorest of the poor, the least of these?
In Jesus’ most famous Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5 he tells us:
“When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them by saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”
We live in a country and a time now that is perverting this teaching
Exploited are the poor, because they are poor.
Neglected are the elderly because they are old.
Marginalized are the widows and children, because they are weak.
Exported are the least of these, because we can.
Lord Have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
My family, I pray you will join me in prayer as my heart mourns and struggles with our government’s decision to exploit and deport the least of these from Haiti. Pray for a reversal of our leaders hearts. Pray for the people and the country of Haiti, In Jesus’ name.
Please share your reflections and prayers with us on this blog in the comment box below.
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