Border Patrol braces for Haitian migrants fleeing violence

(NewsNation) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are telling Border Patrol agents to prepare for an uptick in the number of Haitian migrants who may be trying to flee violence in the Caribbean country.

The warning comes amid rampant gang violence in the country. The United Nations estimates that “heavily-armed gangs” control around 80% of Port-au-Prince, forcing thousands of Haitians to flee their homes.

It’s unclear how many of those fleeing violence will attempt to make their way to the U.S.

CBP has confirmed to NewsNation that Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba is being considered as an option for holding and processing of Haitian migrants.

Brandon Judd, a Border Patrol agent who also serves as the president of the National Border Patrol Council, told “NewsNation Now” there are different paths fleeing Haitians may take.

“Guantanamo Bay is going to be used if it’s Coast Guard. If the Coast Guard interdicts them and the Coast Guard does not allow them to one of our ports in Florida, then it goes to Guantanamo Bay,” Judd said. “But those that come up to our southwest border, it’s always going to be the Border Patrol that is going to deal with them simply because of the sheer numbers.”

He warned, however, many of those southwest border crossings are already struggling to keep up.

“We do not have the infrastructure to deal with that,” Judd said. “Anything above 1,000 apprehensions per day and we’re underwater.”

Haiti is once again facing a wave of chaos fueled by ongoing gang wars, which have spiraled since the 2021 assassination of the country’s president. Gang leaders have grown increasingly violent and empowered, taking advantage of power vacuums in the Caribbean nation to grow in strength.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has said he will resign, bowing to international pressure to save his homeland.