Derby Telegraph

Special envoy resigns over migrant expulsion

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THE Biden administra­tion’s special envoy to Haiti has resigned, protesting about “inhumane” large-scale expulsions of Haitian migrants to their homeland wracked by civil strife and natural disaster, US officials have said.

Daniel Foote was appointed to the position only in July, following the assassinat­ion of Haiti’s president.

Even before the migrant expulsions from the small Texas border town of Del Rio, the career diplomat was known to be deeply frustrated with what he considered a lack of urgency in Washington and a glacial pace on efforts to improve conditions in Haiti.

Mr Foote wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to say that he was stepping down immediatel­y “with deep disappoint­ment and apologies to those seeking crucial changes”.

“I will not be associated with the

United States’ inhumane, counterpro­ductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs to daily life,” he wrote.

“Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my policy recommenda­tions have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own.”

Foote’s sudden departure leaves a void in US policy toward Haiti and adds another prominent, critical voice to the administra­tion’s response to Haitians camped on the Texas border. The camp has shrunk considerab­ly since surpassing more than 14,000 people by last Saturday - many of them expelled and many released in the US with notices to report to immigratio­n authoritie­s.

For weeks, Mr Foote had been quietly pushing in Washington a plan to boost US security assistance to Haiti to pave the way for presidenti­al elections. But Haiti watchers said he became increasing­ly disappoint­ed with the pace of decisionma­king in the administra­tion.

“When someone who is tasked with Haiti policy at the highest level resigns because ‘recommenda­tions are ignored and dismissed’ it’s not only troubling, but shows you this administra­tion does not tolerate anyone who won’t go along with their distorted view of the facts,” said Damian Merlo, a Republican strategist who has worked for years on Haiti policy and is now a registered lobbyist for the government.

 ?? ?? Mexican police stand guard near the Rio Grande river in Ciudad Acuna
Mexican police stand guard near the Rio Grande river in Ciudad Acuna

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