U.S. slaps visa RESTRICTIONS on Haitian official accused of supporting criminal gangs
- The U.S. sanctioned Fritz Alphonse Jean, a senior Haitian official, accusing him of supporting criminal gangs destabilizing Haiti. Jean denies the allegations, calling them political pressure.
- Haiti faces severe gang violence, displacing 1.4 million people and leaving 90% of Port-au-Prince under gang control. The transitional council struggles to restore order, with elections unlikely by the 2026 deadline.
- The sanction follows a 2022 U.S. policy allowing visa bans for those aiding Haitian gangs. The State Department claims the move aligns with U.S. law to prevent adverse foreign policy consequences.
- Haiti’s infrastructure is collapsing, with shortages of fuel, water and food. The U.S. Embassy has reduced staff and issued shelter-in-place warnings amid ongoing violence.
- Critics argue the U.S. sanction undermines Haitian sovereignty, while Washington insists it’s necessary to push for stability and elections. A UN-backed Kenyan security mission has been replaced by a multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to combat gangs.
In a significant move underscoring the profound instability in Haiti, the U.S. government has imposed visa restrictions on a senior Haitian official, accusing him of supporting the criminal gangs that have brought the nation to the brink of collapse.
The U.S. Department of State made the announcement on Monday, Nov. 24. While the initial announcement did not name the official, Fritz Alphonse Jean, an economist and former central bank governor who once served as president of Haiti’s transitional council, confirmed to the Associated Press that he was the target.
Jean vehemently refuted the allegations, framing them as political pressure. He claimed that council members began receiving threats of visa cancellations and other sanctions from U.S. and Canadian diplomats when they started reviewing the possibility of replacing the current prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aime.
This sanction highlights the international community’s dwindling patience with Haiti’s political infighting and the severe gang violence that has displaced over 1.4 million people and left nearly 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, under the control of armed groups. The measure represents a direct intervention by Washington into Haiti’s fragile political process, aiming to compel progress where previous efforts have faltered.
The State Department announced the step under a policy first established in October 2022, which authorizes visa bans for individuals and their family members who provide financial or material support to gangs and criminal organizations operating in Haiti. The department stated the action was taken under U.S. law that bars entry to individuals whose activities could have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.
Haiti’s transitional council struggles amid gang violence and collapse
The transitional presidential council was created after former Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in 2024 amid a catastrophic surge in gang violence that left the country without a functioning government. The council’s mandate is scheduled to end on Feb. 7, 2026, by which time Haiti is expected to hold elections, a deadline now widely seen as impossible to meet given the security situation.
Jean asserted that his goal is to combat corruption and gangs, not cling to power. He also accused Fils-Aime of failing on security, governance and the organization of elections, stating Haiti needs a “more proactive, more responsible government.”
The U.S. action occurs against a backdrop of an extreme humanitarian and security crisis. The security situation is so dire that the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has reduced staffing and issued repeated alerts, warning Americans to shelter in place amid chronic disruptions to critical infrastructure and shortages of fuel, water and food.
A United Nations-backed multinational security mission, led by Kenya, has struggled with chronic underfunding and insufficient personnel. It was replaced in September by the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a 5,550-member force with a 12-month mandate to help neutralize gangs and protect infrastructure.
Foreign influence or self-determination?
The sanction against Jean has ignited a debate about foreign influence in Haitian affairs. Former Haitian Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph, while noting past disagreements with Jean, came to his defense.
“It is unacceptable for embassies to presume to threaten a presidential adviser under the pretext that he has decided to participate in the dismissal of the prime minister,” Joseph wrote on a social media platform. “No Haitian political leader should submit to foreign dictates.” This sentiment reflects a longstanding tension in Haiti between the need for international assistance and the desire for self-determination.
Washington, however, remains firm in its position. “The U.S. remains committed to supporting Haiti’s stability and expects measurable progress toward free and fair elections. The Haitian people have had enough with gang violence, destruction and political infighting,” the State Department said.
BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine notes that Haiti’s collapse into anarchy stems from failed governance and policies that dismantled public safety, allowing gangs to seize control through unchecked violence and destruction. The country now serves as a dire warning of what happens when law enforcement is undermined, leaving citizens vulnerable to chaos and lawlessness.
As Haiti’s provisional electoral council tentatively schedules elections for August and December of next year, the nation remains trapped in a cycle of violence and political paralysis. The stability of Haiti, and by extension the security of the region, hangs in the balance.
Watch Tucker Carlson and former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe discuss the chaos in Haiti and the West’s role in fomenting it.
This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
TheEpochTimes.com
State.gov
APNews.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
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