U.S. House lawmakers encountered alarming scenes during their recent visit to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a city suffering under gang control since the assassination of its former president in July 2021. Bullet-riddled walls and heavily armed police marked their visit.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., described how gangs create roadblocks using debris and large ditches to hinder police and military movement. “Some areas resemble Afghanistan, and Port-au-Prince is undoubtedly the poorest place I’ve visited,” Mast commented.
Mast led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Venezuela and Haiti, the first in a decade to either nation. In Haiti, they met the country’s prime minister, whose palace was “a war zone a year ago,” according to Mast. Efforts are underway to reclaim land across Port-au-Prince.
Mast observed signs of slow progress with the aid of international forces and a U.S. paramilitary group run by Erik Prince.
A disturbing video depicted a Haitian gang torturing a heavy machinery operator who assisted police. Gangs kidnapped his family and demanded him in exchange. Mast described the gruesome killing that followed, as captured on video.
Gang violence is not limited to police allies. Mast learned of a 6-year-old U.S. citizen kidnapped by a local gang, suspected of committing sexual crimes against her. He mentioned, “There was a potential sexual assault, and health concerns suggested the possibility.” An agreement on ransom secured her release after at least 46 days.
The State Department stated the safety and security of Americans remain a top priority. They acknowledged reports of the child’s kidnapping but withheld details to respect the family’s privacy.
Mast doubts further U.S. assistance would improve Haiti’s situation, attributing the chaos to corrupt politicians who exploit gangs. Political figures started gangs for personal gain, he said, noting that many officials continued exploiting the country rather than aiding it.
The Trump administration ended the temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians in the U.S., originally granted after a 2010 earthquake. Thousands face potential return to Haiti.
Mast suggested that returning able-bodied males to Haiti could enhance security by recruiting them into police and military forces. The loss of men due to TPS, he argued, crippled the protective forces, allowing gangs to rise.
Elizabeth Elkind reports on the House of Representatives for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind or send tips to [email protected].
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