The U.S. revokes visas for two members of Haiti’s Transition Council due to criminal ties

New York.- The United States Department of State announced this Sunday the revocation of visas for two members of Haiti’s Presidential Transition Council (CPT), as well as their family members, for their alleged involvement with “gangs and other criminal organizations” in the Caribbean country. “These actions are taken due to the participation of CPT members in the operations of gangs and other criminal organizations in Haiti, including interference with the efforts of the Government of Haiti to combat gangs designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) by the United States,” reported Deputy Principal Spokesperson Tommy Pigott in a statement. The affected individuals, according to the State Department, are two members of the CPT and their immediate family members, spouse and children. The text highlights that the United States maintains “its commitment to support the stability of Haiti and to collaborate with the Haitian authorities to combat gang violence in the country.”

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“The Haitian people are fed up with gang violence, destruction, and internal political struggles. The Trump Administration will promote accountability for those who continue to destabilize Haiti and the region,” the statement concludes.

The possibility of the prime minister’s dismissal

The CPT, composed of representatives from political parties, civil society, and the private sector, was established in April 2024 after Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who took over the reins of the country after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021, announced his resignation in March of that year amid an unprecedented offensive by the armed gang coalition Vivre Ensemble (Living Together), led by the powerful Jimmy Chérizier, alias ‘Barbecue’. Haiti remains on edge awaiting the Presidential Transition Council (CPT), whose mandate expires on February 7th, to make the final decision on the future of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, after this body initiated the mechanisms for his dismissal despite the rejection of the international community. You can also read: The last presidential elections were held in November 2016, when Jovenel Moïse was elected, assassinated by mercenaries in his residence in 2021, so the country does not have elected authorities at the polls. After several postponements, the authorities have scheduled the first round of the presidential elections for August 30, 2026 and the second round for December 6.