U.S. immigration authorities have arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos, a Haitian national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, for alleged violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act tied to actions contributing to the destabilization of Haiti.
Boulos was taken into custody on July 17 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations.
In Haiti, Boulos was known as a doctor and popular businessman. He was the former president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In July 2021, Boulos was preparing to run for president when President Jovenel Moise was murdered.
According to federal authorities, Boulos engaged in a pattern of violent activity and gang support linked to Haiti’s spiraling unrest. The U.S. State Department concluded that his presence in the United States posed potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences, forming the legal basis for his removal under Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Officials say Boulos supported Haitian gangs connected to Viv Ansanm, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S., and helped fuel ongoing instability in the country. He also allegedly misrepresented his background on his U.S. residency application—failing to disclose his founding role in the Haitian political party Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haïti (MTV Ayiti) and past corruption referrals from Haiti’s anti-corruption agency related to loan misuse.
Boulos is currently being held in ICE custody by Enforcement and Removal Operations while proceedings continue.
In a statement, the U.S. government reiterated that individuals who hold legal immigration status in the United States will face consequences if they are found to be aiding violent or terrorist groups abroad.
“These actions underscore our commitment to protecting the American people, advancing our national security interests, and promoting regional stability,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
In a separate statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “I am pleased to announce the latest U.S. actions against individuals whose presence and activities in our country have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.
“Specifically, the Department of State has determined that certain individuals with U.S. lawful permanent resident status have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders connected to Viv Ansanm, a Haitian Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Viv Ansanm is a driver of the violence and criminality in Haiti contributing to the island’s instability. The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while they are facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting criminal terrorist organizations.”
Boulos is the latest in a string of individuals targeted by U.S. authorities for their alleged support of gangs and political violence in Haiti as Washington steps up pressure on those believed to be contributing to the nation’s deepening crisis.
