Overview:
A U.S. immigration choose in Miami dominated that Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful Pierre Réginald Boulos will stay in custody over alleged gang ties. The listening to was closed to the general public, and no further particulars have been launched.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal immigration choose in Miami ordered on Thursday that rich Haitian businessman and one-time presidential hopeful Pierre Réginald Boulos stay in custody in the USA, the place he’s held over accusations of supporting violent gangs in Haiti.
Boulos was arrested at his residence in South Florida earlier in July, accused of being “engaged in a marketing campaign of violence and gang assist that contributed to Haiti’s destabilization,” the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has mentioned.
A widely known member of Haiti’s elite, he’s essentially the most high-profile Haitian arrested thus far beneath the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Thursday’s listening to on the Krome North Service Processing Middle was held behind closed doorways, with authorities barring journalists and others from the courtroom and the detention heart itself.
It wasn’t instantly identified what occurred on the listening to aside from the choose denying Boulos be launched, an individual acquainted with the case instructed The Related Press. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity to debate the listening to.
Boulos’ household launched an announcement on Thursday night saying he’s a U.S. lawful everlasting resident who left Haiti in 2021 after “a long time of service” there as a “doctor, humanitarian, and entrepreneur.”
It mentioned Boulos and his household “stay dedicated to addressing these allegations by the suitable channels and look ahead to presenting a full accounting of the info.”
Greater than a dozen folks gathered outdoors the detention heart on Thursday, demanding that Boulos stay within the U.S. — or wherever else however Haiti. The demonstrators waved at vehicles that handed by and honked in assist.
“If Boulos goes to Haiti, he won’t keep in jail. The justice in Haiti are gangs,” learn one signal.
Some mentioned Boulos ought to be despatched to El Salvador, and even Guantánamo. One other signal learn: Ship Boulos beneath the ocean.
U.S. authorities haven’t supplied any particulars on Boulos’s case, and no paperwork have been made public. Days after his arrest, ICE additionally mentioned Boulos didn’t disclose in his residency software his involvement within the creation of a political celebration or that Haiti’s authorities had referred him for prosecution for misusing loans.
It added that the State Division “has decided that sure people with U.S. lawful everlasting resident standing have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders connected to Viv Ansanm, a Haitian overseas terrorist group.”
“America won’t permit people to get pleasure from the advantages of authorized standing in our nation whereas they’re facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting prison terrorist organizations overseas,” the assertion mentioned.
An legal professional for Boulos, who was born within the U.S., didn’t instantly reply to a message in search of remark.
Boulos ran grocery shops, automobile dealerships and different companies whereas in Haiti, the place he served as president of the Nationwide Chamber of Commerce and Trade. He beforehand denied a flurry of corruption allegations in Haiti.
In 2019, he created the Third Manner Motion, a political celebration that he mentioned on the time served as a distinction to the “shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who’re working to bathroom down the nation and enhance the struggling of the folks” of Haiti.
Boulos renounced his U.S. citizenship amid expectations of a presidential run, which by no means materialized. He obtained U.S residency final yr, beneath the Biden administration.