San Juan, Puerto Rico- A Federal Immigration Judge in Miami on Thursday ordered that the wealthy Haitian businessman and the one-off presidential hopeful Pierre Réginald Boulos remain in the United States, where he was held to the accusations of supporting violent gangs in Haiti. Boulos was arrested earlier in July in his South Florida home and accused of ‘working on a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti’s destabilization, the US immigration and customs handling said. He is a well-known member of Haiti’s elite and is the highest profile arrested so far under the Trump administration’s immigration suppression. Thursday’s trial in the Krome North Service Processing Center was held behind closed doors, with authorities hindering journalists and others from the courtroom and the detention center itself. It was not immediately known what happened during the hearing, except that the judge denied that Boulos was released, a person who was familiar with the case, told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the hearing. More than a dozen people met outside the Detention Center on Thursday, demanding that Boulos stay in the US – or anywhere else except Haiti. The protesters waved to cars that passed and supported. “If Boulos goes to Haiti, he will not remain in prison. The justice in Haiti is gangs, ‘read one sign. Some said Boulos should be sent to El Salvador or even Guantánamo. Another sign read: Send bowling box under the sea. US authorities did not provide any details about Boulos’ case, and no documents were made public. Days after his arrest, Ice also said Boulos did not disclose his involvement in the creation of a political party in his application to the residence, or that the Haiti government referred him as prosecution for the abuse of loans. It was added that the State Department “determined that certain individuals with American legal permanent resident status supported and worked with Haitian gang leaders related to Viv Ansanm, a Haitian foreign terrorist organization.” “The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while facilitating the actions of violent organizations or support criminal terrorist organizations abroad,” the statement says. Boulos operated grocery stores, car dealers and other businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Boulos, born in the US, previously denied a flurry of corruption increases in Haiti. In 2019, he created the third away movement, a political party he said at the time a contrast to the ‘Shameless Elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are hitting the country in the country and raising the suffering of the people of Haiti. Boulos renounced his US citizenship amid expectations of a presidential run that never realized. He acquired American tenure under the Biden Administration last year. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without edits to text.
An American judge says arrested Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful will remain in custody | Today news
