Overview:
U.S. authorities confirmed they arrested Haitian businessman Pierre Réginald Boulos on costs of immigration fraud and alleged assist of prison armed gangs, destabilizing Haiti. He’s presently held in ICE detention whereas going through deportation proceedings.
In line with ICE, Boulos didn’t disclose his function in founding the political social gathering—Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haïti (MTV Haiti)—when he utilized for lawful everlasting residency. He additionally didn’t disclose that Haiti’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) had named him for alleged misuse of mortgage funds. Much more considerably, the U.S. officers alleged, Boulos supported armed teams behind Haiti’s ongoing safety disaster.
“The Division of State decided that Boulos’ presence or actions in the US would have potential [sic] critical hostile overseas coverage penalties,” the ICE statement reads. “This helps a further floor of removability based mostly on immigration fraud.”
“America is not going to enable lawful everlasting residents to take pleasure in the advantages of that standing whereas helping prison or terrorist organizations.”
ICE assertion
The arrest follows a joint investigation involving ICE’s Enforcement and Removing Operations (ERO), the U.S. Division of State’s Diplomatic Safety Service, and the Fraud Detection and Nationwide Safety Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS). It comes as Haitians proceed to endure from escalating gang violence, with greater than 3,000 deaths reported to date in 2025. Armed teams, together with many affiliated with the “Viv Ansanm” gang alliance, have additionally prolonged their affect past Port-au-Prince into numerous provinces.
U.S. authorities lately designated “Viv Ansanm” and different gangs in Haiti as overseas terrorist organizations.
In making the Boulos arrest, the State Division reiterated that lawful everlasting residents who assist prison teams overseas could lose their immigration standing.
“America is not going to enable lawful everlasting residents to take pleasure in the advantages of that standing whereas helping prison or terrorist organizations,” the assertion stated.
In the meantime, businessman Allan Zuraik—proprietor of Safari Motors in Port-au-Prince—publicly denied stories circulating on social media that he, too, had been arrested by ICE.
Editor’s Be aware: The unique story follows.