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Quixote Center Applauds Bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act

The humanitarian situation in Haiti continues to worsen as its people suffer from a crisis of violence and hunger, fueled by weapons and ammunition trafficked from the US. Due to the rescission of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians set to take place in August 2025, many more Haitians who are in the US legally are at risk of being deported back to Haiti which does not have the infrastructure or resources to resettle them.

In the midst of this, we are happy to report some good news! Thanks to the collective advocacy of our supporters and our partners, on Thursday, May 22, the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Curtis (R-UT) and Chris Coons (D-DE), reintroducedthe bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act ([link removed]).

This bipartisan legislation requires the US Department of State to provide an annual report to Congress on ties between criminal gangs and political and economic elites in Haiti, many of whom reside in or have property in the US, to determine the sources of financial support for the gangs. The bill then requires the President to impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions on certain individuals identified in the report, if appropriate under U.S. law.

Companion legislation, H.R. 2643 ([link removed]) was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 3, 2025 by Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee along with Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Co-Chair of the House Haiti Caucus. The other co-sponsors are Rep. Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Rep. Moskowitz (D-FL), Rep. Bell (D-MO) and Rep. McCormick (R-GA).

Quixote Center applauds this bipartisan legislation as an important step to curtail the power of Haiti's gangs by directing sanctions at Haiti's political and economic elites who finance gangs and benefit from gang violence. Cutting off the financing to arms dealing in Haiti is crucial because it deprives gangs of the weapons they use to dominate communities and fuel widespread violence. Reducing the flow of illegal weapons helps protect civilians and creates space for long-term governance and security reforms.

We are proud to have supported this legislation when it was first introduced in 2023. We are indebted to the tireless efforts of the Haitian-led diaspora in the United States, and a special shoutout to Quixote Center's Board Member, Claudette David ([link removed]) for her work in this cause.
We are grateful for the ongoing dialogue with our bipartisan colleagues on the Hill. We also want to thank you - our supporters - for your efforts in advocating for this bill with your representatives throughout the last year. Each email sent or phone call made to your representatives made an impact.

Because it has strong bipartisan support, we are hopeful the legislation will finally pass the House and Senate. We will keep our community updated as this unfolds. In the meantime, may this serve as an inspiring reminder for us all that we can push the needle on important humanitarian issues. This bipartisan bill is proof that, collectively, we can continue to fight for a better environment for Haitians, migrants, and those on the move.

Take action: If you are a resident of NH, FL, UT, VA or DE, or if any of the House co-sponsors are your Representative, we encourage you to call their offices to express your appreciation for their work on this bill on behalf of the people of Haiti. The US House of Representatives Switchboard is (202) 225-3121; the Senate is (202) 224-3121. In the coming weeks we will offer the opportunity to write letters to your Members of Congress asking for their vote.

To learn more about the current situation in Haiti and the importance of halting arms trafficking, please follow the links below:

U.S. lawmakers want mandatory sanctions, reporting on Haiti as gang violence worsens: [link removed] ([link removed])

Ranking Member Shaheen, Senators Kaine, Scott, Curtis, Coons Lead Bipartisan Bill to Address Gang-Violence in Haiti: [link removed] ([link removed])

Gun Trafficking from the US Fuels Migration: [link removed] ([link removed])

New Data on the U.S. Gun Trade to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean: A report by Stop US Arms to Mexico: [link removed] ([link removed])

To leave a comment on this article, please visit our blog post HERE ([link removed]).

 

HRA One Diaspora Advocacy Days

Quixote Center was pleased to support and participate in the Haiti Renewal Alliance ([link removed]) (HRA) One Diaspora Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill on May 20-21, 2025. Through over a dozen meetings with House and Senate offices, we asked Members of Congress to co-sponsor and advance the H.R. 1114 - Haitian American Enterprise Fund, a public-private partnership that would raise $5 billion over 5 years to rebuild Haiti's infrastructure and attract investment through tax free zones.

HRA and Quixote Center meeting with Rep. Salazar (R-FL) office

Quixote Center staff joining HRA One Diaspora Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill

As the attention in Haiti focuses on the yet unresolved insecurity crisis with gangs controlling most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and most of the Artibonite region, we and our partners are preparing for the future of Haiti, one that is led by Haitians and for Haitians. Under congressional oversight, the Haitian American Enterprise Fund would provide equity, loans, and technical assistance to micro, small and medium-sized Haitian businesses with US and diaspora investments. We see this mini-Marshall plan, focusing on infrastructure investment, as a great vehicle to jump-start Haiti's economy. The Haitian American Enterprise Fund is a unique opportunity for Haitian-led solutions to transition Haiti into a fully independent and prosperous nation.

If you wish to comment on this blog post, click HERE ([link removed]).

 

Quixote Center Welcomes our new Intern and Volunteer

Mira Cohen is the Advocacy Intern at the Quixote Center. She is a fourth-year undergraduate student at McGill University, majoring in International Development and Hispanic Studies. Over the past academic year, Mira studied at the Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP) in Mexico, where she worked as a member of the incident response team at Red Franciscana para Migrantes, one of the Quixote Center's partner organizations. In Mexico, she helped facilitate workshops to raise awareness about migration issues across Mexico and Latin America and contributed to NGO statements urging the UNHCR to take action on migration and human rights concerns. Mira has also reported on the Wayuu, an Indigenous group in Colombia, highlighting their resistance to environmental exploitation and government corruption for The Upstream Journal, a human rights and social justice magazine. She is passionate about migrant justice, addressing the root causes of violence, and grassroots advocacy, and she is excited to be joining the Quixote Center this summer.

Chelsea Ridenour is a bilingual (English/French) social impact leader with extensive experience in migration, education, and community development. She has held senior roles at organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and the Institute of International Education, where she led cross-sector programs supporting refugee and migrant youth, higher education access, and international collaboration. Passionate about equity and inclusion, she brings a deep commitment to building partnerships, advancing community-centered solutions, and empowering underserved populations. In her free time, she loves to read, is a novice baker, and enjoys exploring walking trails in the Hyattsville, MD area.

 

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