On July 17, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos in Miami. Boulos, a lawful permanent resident of the United States and a citizen of Haiti, was charged with violating the Immigration and Nationality Act due to activities contributing to the destabilization of Haiti. The investigation was conducted jointly with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
The Department of State found that Boulos' presence or activities in the United States could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the country. Officials determined he engaged in violence and gang support campaigns that contributed to Haiti's destabilization. Furthermore, Boulos failed to disclose his involvement in forming a political party in Haiti, Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d'Haiti, when applying for lawful permanent residency. He was also referred for prosecution by Haiti's Unit for the Fight Against Corruption for misusing loans, supporting another ground for removability based on fraud. Currently, he is detained by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
The Department of State has identified certain individuals with U.S. lawful permanent resident status who have supported Haitian gang leaders linked to Viv Ansanm, a Haitian foreign terrorist organization. "The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while they are facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting criminal terrorist organizations abroad."
This determination allows the Department of Homeland Security to pursue removal under section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. These actions demonstrate "the Trump administration’s firm commitment to protecting the American people, advancing our national security interests, and promoting regional security and stability."
