Haitians in NY remain steadfast amid Trump’s deportation threats

Amid continual disparagement and fears of mass deportation of Haitians and other immigrants by President-Elect Donald J. Trumps, Haitians in New York in general remain steadfast in focusing on values that they say unite all Americans.

“As a proud Haitian-American and a firm believer in the power of democracy, I recognize that elections reflect the will of the people and that, in a democracy, we sometimes experience outcomes we may not have hoped for,” New York City Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, the Haitian-born representative for the 46th Council District in Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life on Monday.

“I am certainly disappointed in the rhetoric that has, at times, unfairly portrayed the Haitian-American community, including deeply hurtful and baseless accusations,” she added. “However, it is crucial that we look forward. We must remember that democracy not only allows us the freedom to choose but also challenges us to work together, especially in times of division.

“I sincerely hope that we can set aside the negative language and instead focus on the values that unite us all as Americans: A commitment to progress, resilience and equality,” Narcisse continued. “Now is a time to build bridges, not walls, and to focus on what we share as a community rather than what separates us.

“Let us move forward with respect, understanding and a renewed dedication to working toward a more inclusive and united nation before it is too late,” the councilmember said.

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, New York State Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, said she was deeply disappointed with the defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of retired Jamaican-born economist Dr. Donald Harris.

“However, Brooklyn Democrats galvanized voters, turned out the most votes of any borough of New York City, and New York State, and we are determined to continue that unity in the face of President-Elect Trump,” the representative for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn, told Caribbean Life. “Democrats in Brooklyn are united in steadfast opposition to the insidious forces of the Trump administration’s extreme MAGA Republican ideologies that go against our democratic ideals.

“Trump keeps spreading disgusting and blatantly racist fake ‘news’ attacking immigrants, particularly Haitians, including the blatantly false claims that they are eating and abducting pets,” Bichotte Hermelyn added. “The incoming Trump-Vance administration is repeatedly trying to spread hate and fear by specifically painting Haitians and other immigrants as dangerous criminals with racist trope. We will not allow these repugnant attacks, which are causing real danger and damage to law-abiding Haitians across the US, stand.”

She noted that Trump has also pledged to launch “the largest deportation in the history of our country,” starting with the Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, most of whom are there legally.

Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn. Photo courtesy Office of Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte

But Bichotte Hermelyn said: “This is still the county of law and order, with checks and balances.

“And, as one of the largest Democratic organizations in the nation, the Brooklyn Democratic Party embraces our borough’s wonderfully diverse communities and stands in solidarity against oppressive and unconstitutional racist immigration policies,” she said, stating that while Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance are “using suffering immigrants as propaganda for racist rhetoric, our nation knows better.

“Haitians formed the world’s first Free Black Republic, and their revolution led to the US’s expansion,” Bichotte Hermelyn added. “They shed blood for our nation’s independence as soldiers in the Battle of Savannah, while Jean Baptiste Point du Sable founded Chicago, and, today, Haitian immigrants serve as doctors, engineers and myriad roles, making America better.

“We must, and will, keep America a beacon of freedom and hope,” she affirmed.

Elsie Saint Louis, chief executive officer of Haitian-Americans United for Progress, Inc. (HAUP), a nonprofit organization with offices in Brooklyn and Queens, noted that Trump promised to disrupt family life in the United States by deporting swiftly as many as 20 million undocumented immigrants.

“It is unfortunate that this turned out (to be) the argument that won him the popular and electoral vote,” she said. “While immigrants have every reason to fear that the strong-armed measures may be extremely harsh, we urge them to not give in to panic.

“They should seek counseling and guidance from reliable community service providers that are equipped to provide assistance,” St. Louis urged. “They should not rely on hearsay or third-party information in order to assess their options.”

She said HAUP – a multi-program organization, providing support for individuals who are seeking immigration, educational and health services, while also assisting those with special needs – “has been committed to helping individuals and families enhance their quality of life.”

Saint Louis said HAUP – which offers a free, full-day Pre-K program to children who are 4 years old – have expanded over the years and currently offer a multitude of services throughout the entire Tri-State are.

Haitian entertainer AniYa A., of The AniYa A. Show, a podcast in Manhattan, told Caribbean Life: “Trump is a businessman, Amerikkka (her spelling) is a corporation and, because many top leaders, as well as dictators around the world, fear his level of insanity, it was a business move to put him back in (to re-elect him).”

But AniYa A. (her spelling and no last name given) added: “Our biggest enemies are ourselves. Our people truly have failed us in many ways.

“However, it also isn’t their fault, as we have been broken so badly by the white man that we hurt each other daily out of fear of being hurt,” AniYa A continued. “We are living lives as though we are constantly in survival mode as it is in our DNA. But, instead of working together in order to defeat our enemies, we’ve allowed our enemies to laugh at us, as they have bribed us with 30 pieces of silver to kill our leaders.”

Wesley Jean Simon, executive chef at Market Bar Bk, on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, also told Caribbean Life: “We are heartbroken by the devastating news of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency.

“His recent statements, particularly those targeting Haitians, have had a profound and direct impact on our business, our employees and the community we serve,” he said. “Sales have dropped, not just in response to political turmoil, but because of the real fear and uncertainty that have gripped the hearts of so many of our friends, coworkers and neighbors.”

Jean Simon said many of his employees, including those who have just celebrated their one-year milestone in this country, are “now living with the constant worry of deportation and potential raids by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency).

“These hardworking individuals came here seeking a better life, and, for many, this is the only home they know,” he said. “With the ongoing war in Haiti, the idea of returning is not just heartbreaking, it’s terrifying. For them, America is not just a place of work; it is the place they have built their lives, their futures and their families.”

Jean Simon said Market Bar Bk’s concerns “go beyond the immediate impact on sales.

“We are deeply worried about losing some of our best employees — people who are irreplaceable and who have contributed immeasurably to our success,” he said. “These are not just workers; they are members of our community, friends and people we deeply care about. The fear they are living with is palpable, and it is affecting all of us.

“What’s happening here is not just a business issue; it’s a human issue,” Jean Simon added. “We stand with our Haitian employees, our Haitian business owners, and all those who feel the weight of discrimination and fear in this uncertain political climate.

“We are committed to doing everything in our power to support our community, and ensure that our business remains a place of safety, inclusion and respect for all people, regardless of their background or immigration status,” he continued. “In this progressive city, we should be a beacon of hope and acceptance—not a place where fear and division take hold.

“The impact of these statements is being felt by many, and it is up to all of us — business owners, leaders and community members—to come together and offer support,” he said. “We cannot let this toxic rhetoric tear apart the lives of those who have made this country their home.”

Jean Simon further urged “everyone to stand with us and with the hardworking people who are part of the fabric of this nation.

“Together, we can create a future where fear no longer controls us, and where the values of kindness, inclusion and mutual respect are the guiding forces in our business and our community,” he said.

Last Thursday evening, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, led a rally in Foley Square in lower Manhattan with member-organizations, allies and Caribbean and other immigrant New Yorkers in standing up for immigrants and fighting back against the imminent threats posed by a second Trump presidency and his proposed Project 2025 agenda.

Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s president and chief executive officer, told Caribbean Life that Project 2025 “seeks to create a nationwide deportation system that will have devastating consequences for many vulnerable communities.

“Donald Trump has explicitly threatened to deploy local law enforcement to deport all undocumented immigrants in the US – an estimated 11 million people – including around 4,500,000 people residing in New York,” Awawdeh said. “These policies undermine the rights and dignity of immigrants but also aim to dismantle the principles of inclusion and justice that define our country.

“Mass deportations would cost New York City alone billions of dollars in economic activity, reducing the workforce by hundreds of thousands of people and destroying countless small businesses,” he warned.

On the campaign trail, Trump and Vance had constantly disparaged immigrants, particularly Haitians residing in Springfield, Ohio.

Trump had frequently falsely claimed, even during his only Presidential Debate with Harris, that Haitians were eating the dogs and cats and other pets of their neighbors in Springfield. The mayor of Springfield and the governor of Ohio had repeatedly stated that there was no evidence to support Trump’s claim.

The US President-Elect also said that deporting immigrants will be his top priority on Day One, when he assumes the presidency, on Inauguration Day, on Jan. 20, 2025.

“Trump’s victory won’t stop our movement from standing up to his racist and fascist agenda,” affirmed Awawdeh at Thursday night’s rally. “New York would not be the same without the 4.5 million immigrants who have helped shape our culture and fueled our economy for generations.

“Donald Trump has demonized our communities and promised to tear our families apart starting on Day One, but we will not be intimidated,” he added. “Trump has underestimated our strength before, and we will show him once again that we are united and resilient.

“The work ahead will be challenging,” Awawdeh noted. “But united, we can ensure New York remains a beacon of hope for our immigrant neighbors and future generations. Together, we will keep fighting for a future where every New Yorker can thrive.”

Erik Crew, staff attorney with the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), also known as the Bridge, said: “It’s sad to think that the people of the United States elected a candidate who demonized immigrants and Black people in migration, who lied about Haitians in Springfield to inflame hatred and fear, and incite intimidation and violence; who promotes racist and xenophobic narratives; who is willing to put an entire town in a state of emergency for weeks just to score political points; who has threatened to deport people in Springfield and across the country; and who has said the Haitians in Springfield were not legal in his mind.

“But Haitian Bridge Alliance was made for this moment, and we are dedicated to protecting the communities we serve and fighting for human rights, using all the tools – humanitarian, legal and social – that we have built over the last near decade,” Crew added. “We are committed to working together with every partnership we have, and to building more whenever possible, to protect our community and promote a just world – now, as much as ever (adding in Haitian creole ‘anpil men chay pa lou’).”

The Bridge is a grassroots nonprofit community organization that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies and provides migrants and immigrants with humanitarian, legal, and social services, with a particular focus on Black people, the Haitian community, women and girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and survivors of torture and other human rights abuses.

New York State Assembly Member Michaelle C. Solages – the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents District 22 in Nassau County, Long Island – said the outcomes of last Tuesday’s US Presidential Elections “have instilled a wave of uncertainty in marginalized communities across New York, particularly within our Haitian community, who are grappling with the looming threat of deportation under the new administration.

“Despite these obstacles, we remain resolute in our dedication to safeguard our neighbors and strive toward a just and equitable immigration system,” said the fifth-term legislator, who represents the communities of Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Elmont, South Valley Stream, South Floral Park, Floral Park, the Village of Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, North Woodmere, Stewart Manor, and sections of Franklin Square.

“We won’t dwell on the challenges; instead, we will mobilize,” vowed Solages, the first person of Haitian descent to be elected to the New York State Legislature. She currently serves as the Assembly Deputy Majority Leader, as well as chair of The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), said, “New York City will continue to stand firmly by the values that have made it a thriving city of immigrants, where all residents—no matter their immigration status—should feel able to trust their local government and seek a better future for themselves and their families.

“We understand that our immigrant communities are facing heightened fear and uncertainty,” said Castro, who, at the age of five, crossed the southern border of the United States with his mother and grew up undocumented in Sunset Park and Flatbush, Brooklyn, home to some of the largest immigrant communities in New York City, including Caribbean immigrants.

“It is important they know that New York City is fully committed to following our Sanctuary City laws,” added Castro, who was part of the early generation of undocumented youth activists known as DREAMers, fighting for the right to an education and legal status. “These laws clearly define the boundary between our role as a city government and federal immigration enforcement, protecting the privacy and identity of immigrant New Yorkers.

“This respect for privacy enables immigrant New Yorkers to access critical, often life-saving, city services without fear,” continued Castro, stating that MOIA is dedicated to serving New York City’s 3.3 million immigrants, who come from over 160 countries.