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U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Haitian Officials Over Alleged Support for Gangs

01:15 PM, 11/25/2025
U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Haitian Officials Over Alleged Support for Gangs

The U.S. announced visa restrictions on unnamed Haitian officials accused of supporting gangs, invoking a policy established in October 2022. The State Department emphasized U.S. support for Haiti’s stability and the need for measurable progress toward free and fair elections. UN figures highlight the severity of the crisis: at least 1,247 killed and 710 injured in Port-au-Prince between July 1 and Sept. 30, alongside mass displacement and other recent waves of violence.

The United States announced on Monday that it will impose visa restrictions on certain Haitian government officials accused of providing material or financial support to gangs and other criminal organizations operating in Haiti. The State Department said the targeted individuals were not named in its announcement.

The action invokes a policy the U.S. first announced in October 2022 under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows visa restrictions for people who materially support criminal groups. A State Department spokesperson said the United States remains committed to supporting Haiti’s stability and expects measurable progress toward free and fair elections.

"The Haitian people have had enough of gang violence, destruction and political infighting," the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. will press for accountability for those who continue to destabilize Haiti and the wider region.

Haiti has endured a deep political crisis and a surge in gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021. Criminal groups now control large parts of Port-au-Prince and many surrounding areas, undermining basic services and displacing civilians.

In a Nov. 12 update, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reported that between July 1 and Sept. 30 at least 1,247 people were killed and 710 injured in the capital area. The UN also documented 145 kidnappings and 400 victims of sexual violence during that period. Earlier UN figures covering April 1 to June 30 recorded at least 1,520 killed, 609 injured, 185 kidnappings and 628 victims of sexual violence.

More than 1.4 million people have been displaced across Haiti amid the violence and instability, exacerbating humanitarian needs.

The visa restrictions come as U.S. officials weigh broader immigration policy decisions related to Haiti, including moves affecting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals in the United States. Actions on TPS and related immigration changes have prompted legal challenges in U.S. courts.

U.S. officials and international partners continue to call for accountability, humanitarian access and steps toward restoring security and democratic processes in Haiti.

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