US suspends visa services for Haiti amid huge surge in gang violence

United States Department has suspended its routine visa services for citizens of Haiti because of a continuous surge in gang violence

Friday, 19th April 2024

US suspends visa services for Haiti amid huge surge in gang violence (PC - Facebook)

The United States Department has suspended its routine visa services for citizens of Haiti because of a continuous surge in gang violence. In an official statement, the US Embassy said that it would only accept expedited non-immigrant visa appointments related to life or death medical emergencies with authorized proof. The statement added that individuals can request an expedited appointment once an interview has been scheduled but they must describe the unique circumstances which justify such a request. The Embassy also said that the routine immigrant visa appointments to the United States has also been suspended till further notice. Meanwhile, the Citizens of America Citizen Services Unit continues to provide service for its nationals living in Haiti. On the other hand, as gang violence is increasing at a higher pace in Port Au Prince, Haiti, the US government asked its nationals to evacuate as soon as possible. The final chance for the US citizens to evacuate Haiti through a government-chartered flight concluded last Friday. The US State Department sent an email to the Americans living in Haiti last week to notify them about the charter flights that ceased their operations on April 12. These decisions came as the ongoing reports from Haiti showed continued gunfire sounds across the streets of the capital city which further forced the charitable organisations to suspend aid services. Moreover, under the direction of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the State of Florida Department of Emergency Management, the Tropic Air Rescue of Ft Lauderdale Florida conducted rescue operations for the state of Haiti earlier this week. The team directly rescued and repatriated 143 Americans out of Port au Prince Haiti and sent them back safely to their families in the US. [caption id="attachment_70603" align="aligncenter" width="375"]

US families being rescued from Haiti[/caption] It is to be noted that This operation began with a telephone request on a Sunday night for assistance from Florida U.S. Congressman. On that night the team flew from Ft. Lauderdale to the Dominican Republic and then into Haiti to rescue 10 trapped Americans from a safe house in downtown Port au Prince. That event was the catalyst for what became an all-out rescue effort shortly thereafter involving the Governor's Office and the Florida Department of Emergency Management. They coordinated multiple helicopters shuttling trapped persons from Port au Prince to Cap Haitian airport in the northern part of the country and then placing them on jets back to the U.S. Over 400 Americans have so far been rescued. Haiti, which was already fighting with longstanding political instability and rampant gang violence, went into a more profound crisis on February 29 after heavily armed gangs launched attacks on government infrastructure and institutions. The government in the country has declared a state of emergency, which has been extended until May 3, along with a nighttime curfew was in place till Aril 17.