UN Reports Nearly 200,000 Forced Deportations to Haiti Amid Escalating Gang Violence

Nearly 200,000 people were forcibly deported to Haiti during the first eight months of 2026, according to United Nations officials speaking at an emergency Security Council meeting on Friday. This figure represents an increase of at least 20,000 people compared to the same period last year. The announcement follows a brutal gang attack in Kenscoff, a community near the capital of Port-au-Prince, which left 47 people dead, including three boys and two girls. Reports indicate that houses were burned and people were attacked inside a church during the incident.

The surge in deportations coincides with the arrival of the first U.S. deportation flights following a legal victory by the Trump administration, which ended Temporary Protected Status for approximately 350,000 Haitians. Activists have warned that the country lacks the resources to assist those being returned and remains too dangerous due to surging violence. Additionally, the UN reports that nearly 1.5 million people are internally displaced within Haiti, with children making up half of that population.

During the meeting, Haiti and the United States called for the rapid deployment and mandate renewal of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF). The multinational force aims to reach a capacity of 5,500 soldiers by this fall to assist local police in combating gangs. U.S. representative Jennifer Locetta urged the Council to renew the mandate, stating that the GSF was not created to issue statements from within a wall while the country suffers. Haiti's representative, Pierre Ericq Pierre, also requested support for training new military personnel and stricter enforcement of the UN arms embargo. UN officials noted that illegal weapons, many originating from the southeastern United States, continue to flow into the country and strengthen armed gangs.