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LWVSD IMMIGRATION & DEPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING NOTES, 9/10/2026

Speaker: Guerline Josef, Executive Director, Haitian Bridge Alliance

Guerline stated that the last 12 years have been extremely difficult. Trump and Steven Miller, the current extremist leadership, have been given the “green light” from the Supreme Court to hurt people. Haiti is at “level 4” according to advisories from the State Department, do not travel, not a safe place for travel designation. This is due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, unrest and limited healthcare that is Haiti today. U.S. born citizen children in Haitian families are to be deported with their parents as the government is calling the family “undocumented”. Their parents have followed all the rules, paid all the fees.  Every 12 months fees are due to renew their work permits. Just yesterday here in San Diego ICE agents stopped the car of the parents of two young children (just dropped off at school), an example of “driving while Black”. The parents were questioned and taken in to custody, a practice of “no due process” rampant in San Diego right now. With increasing fear in the community, people are afraid to leave their homes. The Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) usually holds “community engagement events”, the last Saturday of the month for immigrant families where folks can get legal advice, medical checkups, diapers, food, etc. Sadly, the August and September events had to be cancelled due to the dangers with ICE. They are now doing food & supplies deliveries to families as they depend on this support to survive. On the 24th and 25th of this month HBA plans to deliver food to 150 families in need, volunteers are needed. We welcome partnership with other groups such as yourselves, to help with these food deliveries. Also, folks can help by taking video and pictures of such ICE grabs they may witness in the community. 

Guerline stated that in seeking alternatives, HBA is striving to fight within the system to alleviate immigrant injustice. Currently there is a bill that can help set up TPS for Haitians for 3 years, SB4814. It passed in the House but is stuck in the Senate; 35 Senators have agreed to support it but it needs 67 to pass. Both our CA Senators (Padilla and Schiff) have shown active support of the bill but it was not an easy win as rights for Black folks is not a priority for them, we had to beg for their support. I urge you to write to our Senators, thank them and urge them to convince their colleagues to sign S4814! Another hope is to get bipartisan support for the Dreamer Promise Act in the House which addresses long-term goals for TPS, DACA and DED/Deferred Enforced Departure recipients. This would provide permanent residency for these folks and as such it covers the needs of the majority of people labelled undocumented in this country. Bipartisan support is critical!

Q & A and Discussion:

• What can we do to be ready for the next meeting of Congress in January? What can we expect in the November elections?

Guerline stated that there are hopes for a major flip in November. Without that in the House, Haitians are at risk. The hope now is that Senator Thune can bring up a vote in the House; there is a lot in the balance with this congress. People are dying NOW and we need S4814 to pass! Back in 2021, the U.S. Citizenship Act was introduced during the Biden administration but unfortunately this comprehensive immigration reform stalled in Congress. Guerline hopes that those who favor our bills are re-elected.

• A member asked if the HBA will be at the 11AM protest at the courthouse tomorrow? Another member noted that 2 reps will be there as well as Christ Ministry. 

• Another member offered partnership in the food delivery under the San Diego Episcopal Diocese. 

• LWVSD President noted that the National League of Women Voters supports DACA. Guerline added that an immigrant must have “permanent residency” for 5 years just to apply for citizenship then the process to reach that goal can take10 years. 

• It seems the majority of our officials are not willing to address the hard issues. “I am worried about the vote in November”. Guerline stated she is worried that voters may not show up to vote, especially the discouraged young voters. Maybe after the midterms folks in Congress will be more willing to address the hard issues. 

• Does a national Haitian group exist? Guerline said yes, “we are that national group.” But we are unable to answer to all of the needs. The numbers of those with TPS are about a half a million in the country; in addition to the 350,000 DHS reports, 100,000 people applied but never got their paperwork and another 50,000 Haitians did not qualify. We need folks to join our team, please contact Vivie at our office to volunteer.  We need “safe volunteers”, those who really want to support the community and they must be vetted so that families are safe.  

• Jane asked if businesses are pushing back with the Haitians losing TPS as they are often essential workers! Guerline responded yes, especially hospital, healthcare and meat packing employers are struggling and many businesses are collapsing with the loss of workers. Even Haitian doctors and other professionals are being pushed to take the $3,000 and leave.

• Do you see some professionals and others receiving money and self deporting? Guerline stated HBA has not seen Haitians seek the money and self deport though some have been given $40-$60 and then are sent to a very remote airport in the north of Haiti instead of the main airport which is now a USA military base. A Haitian who might get paid $1-3,000 to self deport would then be at risk of kidnapping/killing; it gets more dangerous as word gets out. People who have been kidnapped in Haiti experience extreme trauma, mental health issues, suicide risk, etc. These days, for Haitians:  Deport to Haiti=death; Stay in the USA=death.

• Do you help Blacks from other countries? Guerline stated they do help others, from  South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nepal, Venezuela etc. Guerline added that they are “co-counsels” in court in addition to their humanitarian support. 

• It seems we need to know more about the political history of Haiti as it has links to the troubles today? Guerline stated “I am a proud Haitian American woman; Haiti and USA history has always been complicated.” When Blacks became liberated in Haiti, this worried the USA that their Blacks would also rise up and revolt! France, Haiti’s colonizer, demanded payment of large sums from Haiti. Haiti was the richest colony of Europe but now they are the poorest in the Western hemisphere.  The Haitian National Bank held the riches of Haiti but then the U.S. took all their money, gold, etc. to form Citibank in the U.S. From 1915 on, the USA was always involved in Haiti’s presidential elections. Today Haiti just has a Prime Minister, no more presidents and the Haitian leadership always catered to the USA's wishes. Bill Clinton decided to destroy farming in Haiti to protect USA farmers and that led to years of famine in Haiti, destroying agrarian reform efforts. 

Beryl thanked Guerline for such a frightening report.