Haiti: Whether Haitians who have lived abroad (in the United States or Canada, for example) for a long time (several years) are at risk if they return to their homeland; the kinds of risks they might face; whether their return could represent a threat to members of their families and, if so, what kind of threat their families would face and from whom
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 15 October 2007 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | HTI102610.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Haiti: Whether Haitians who have lived abroad (in the United States or Canada, for example) for a long time (several years) are at risk if they return to their homeland; the kinds of risks they might face; whether their return could represent a threat to members of their families and, if so, what kind of threat their families would face and from whom, 15 October 2007, HTI102610.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/485ba8642.html [accessed 13 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ottawa responded by letter to a request for information from the Research Directorate regarding the situation of Haitians who return to their country after living abroad for several years (24 Sept. 2007). The UNHCR representative in Canada stated that he had limited information and that he did not know whether such Haitians face any risks simply because they have lived abroad (UN 24 Sept. 2007).
The UNHCR representative indicated that certain categories of people who have lived abroad may face a higher risk of threats and human rights violations, but he did not list them all (ibid.). For example, criminals deported to Haiti risk facing human rights abuses as a result of prison conditions and may be subjected to other violations, such as arbitrary or long-term detention (ibid.). Stories of Haitians who have lived abroad for a long time and who are kidnapped after returning to their country because they appear to have greater financial means are often reported in the media and by non-governmental organizations (UN 24 Sept. 2007). Also, some people are more likely than others to be targeted upon returning to Haiti because of their involvement in political or other activities (ibid.). The risks that a person faces when returning to Haiti depend on that person's political role or past and [translation] "are not necessarily related to that person's status as a Haitian who has lived abroad" (ibid.).
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 27 September 2007, a legal and human rights expert from the Canadian Cooperation Support Program Unit in Haiti (Unité d'appui au programme de la coopération canadienne à Haïti, UAPC) stated that the Haitian diaspora as a whole cannot be considered a [translation] "risk group" and that each case must be considered individually and within [translation] "its own context." He also indicated, however, that the characteristics of members of the diaspora [language and different behaviour in public] make them [translation] "a group apart" that [translation] "stands out" more and is [translation] "targeted more by kidnappers" (UAPC 27 Sept. 2007).
This issue is addressed in a Boston Globe article that indicates that people deported to Haiti by the United States have limited ties with the country and do not speak Creole well, which makes it difficult for them to adapt and in particular [translation] "makes deportees more easily identifiable" (11 Mar. 2007).
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 18 September 2007, an analyst from the International Crisis Group (ICG) indicated that he has not studied the issue in detail and that he is not aware of any specific cases of Haitians who have been at risk following their return after living abroad for several years. However, he also stated that he has heard rumours and stories about such cases (ICG 18 Sept. 2004). He indicated that [translation] "Haitians who return to the country, particularly to Port-au-Prince" face certain risks and that [translation] "those risks are probably lower outside urban areas" (ibid.).
Information on whether the return of such people could represent a threat to their families could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Boston Globe. 11 March 2007. Amy Bracken. "Influx of Deportees Stirs Anger in Haiti: Some Believe US Policy Helped Boost Crime Rate."
International Crisis Group (ICG). 18 September 2007. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by an expert analyst on Haiti.
Unité d'appui au programme de la coopération canadienne à Haïti (UAPC). 27 September 2007. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a justice and human rights expert.
United Nations (UN). 24 September 2007. Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the representative in Canada.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The National Coalition for Haitian Rights (NCHR) did not respond within the time constraints for this Response.
Internet sites, including: Agence haïtienne de presse, Amnesty International, Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, Factiva, Haiti Press Network, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), National Human Rights Defense Network (NHRDN), Organization of American States in Haiti, La Toile d'Haïti, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), World News Connection.
