Florida Democratic Rep. Valdez Venita Demings (Val Demings) introduced the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2022 to the House of Representatives. This legislation would require a new federal investigation and report into the individuals and political and economic organizations supporting criminal gang activity in Haiti.

Rep. Demings said : "[...] I’m fighting for a Haiti free from fear and gang violence, where the Haitian people have the safety and freedom to build their own future. This new legislation will help us identify bad actors behind Haiti’s lawlessness and hold them accountable [...]"

The Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2022 would require the U.S. Department of State to investigate the nature of the relationship between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti, and to submit an annual report to Congress on that topic. This legislation follows successful models used to investigate corruption in Russia and other nations and to lay the groundwork for U.S. sanctions and cooperative international crackdowns.

Learn more about Representative Demings :

Rep. Demings co-chairs the House Haiti Caucus, which she helped to form in 2021. Over the past year, the Caucus has closely monitored efforts to restore democracy in Haiti, worked to ensure the safety of kidnapped missionaries, and led efforts to send COVID-19 vaccines to Haiti. Rep. Demings helped lead calls for stability, security and democracy following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, including a transparent, independent investigation into that act. Since the assassination, she has pushed the Biden-Harris administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler Ariel Henry.

Rep. Demings successfully called for redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and a renewal of the lapsed Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) program, and called for an immediate halt to deportations of Haitian asylum seekers which have contributed to a worsening crisis.

HL/ HaitiLibre