Haitian woman dies while in ICE custody at Pompano Beach detention center | Breaking News
Marie Ange Blaise, 44, passed away April 25 at Broward Transitional Center; federal authorities investigating cause of death
by The Haitian Times Apr. 30, 2025
Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian woman, died while in federal immigration custody in Florida. She was being held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach. The cause of death has not been disclosed and remains under investigation.
Marie Ange Blaise, a 44-year-old Haitian national, died April 25 while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, ICE announced on Thursday.
She was pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m. by medical staff at the facility. The cause of death is under investigation.
Blaise had entered the United States without admission or parole at an unknown time and location, according to ICE. She was first encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Feb. 12 at the Henry E. Rohlsen International Airport in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, while trying to board a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Authorities issued Blaise a Notice of Expedited Removal the same day, citing her inadmissibility as an immigrant without a valid visa. Over the next two months, she was transferred multiple times between ICE facilities in Puerto Rico, Louisiana and finally Florida.
ICE officials said they notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General and the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility, as per policy. The Haitian Consulate in Miami was also informed via email, the agency said.
In accordance with congressional requirements, ICE said it will publicly release a full report on Blaise’s in-custody death within 90 days. A brief summary has been posted to the ICE public website.
Advocates have long raised concerns over the conditions and health care within ICE detention centers, particularly for Haitian migrants and asylum seekers. ICE has maintained that comprehensive medical, dental and mental health care is available to all people in its custody, including 24-hour emergency services.
USA : Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations
The United States remains committed to protecting our national security interests and dismantling violent criminal gangs terrorizing the Haitian people.
Today, the Department of State announces the designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs).
- Viv Ansanm is a group formed in September 2023 as a coalition of gangs through an alliance between the two main gang factions operating in Port-au-Prince, G-9 and G-Pép.
- The groups provide a unified platform for criminal groups to use violence to destabilize Haiti and quash actions aimed at restoring state control. Viv Ansanm has launched coordinated attacks on critical infrastructure in Haiti, including prisons, government buildings, and Haiti’s main airport in Port-au-Prince as part of a campaign that, among other things, forced the resignation of former Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
- Gran Grif is the largest gang in Haiti’s Artibonite department, a region that is home to much of the country’s rice fields. Since 2022, Gran Grif has been responsible for 80 percent of civilian death reports in Artibonite. Gran Grif has attacked Haitian National Police and the UN-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, including in the February 2025 attack that killed a Kenyan MSS mission officer.
Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, denying them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources they need to carry out attacks.
All property and interests in property of those designated today that are in the United States or that are in possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from conducting business with sanctioned persons.
Persons, including American citizens, that engage in certain transactions or activities with these entities, or these individuals may expose themselves to sanctions risk. Notably, engaging in certain transactions with the organizations designated today entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to counterterrorism authorities.It is a crime to knowingly provide material support or resources to these organizations, or to attempt or conspire to do so. Moreover, terrorist designations can assist law enforcement actions of other U.S. agencies and governments.
Today’s actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register.
Petitioners requesting removal of those designated today from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List should refer to the Department of State’s Delisting Guidance page.
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (May 4, 2025)
Acts 5, 27-31 + 40-41; Ps. 30; Rev 5, 11-14; Jn 21, 1-19
Msgr. Pierre Andre Pierre
Third Sunday of Easter. The last chapter of the Gospel of John takes us back to the sea of Galilee and tells us of the third appearance of the Resurrected Jesus to seven of his disciples, including Simon Peter.
The Apostles are puzzled. On the one hand, having seen the Risen Lord with their own eyes, they joyfully proclaimed the miraculous event. But, at the same time, persecuted by the Pharisees and the Jewish courts, they felt like giving up and going back to their old trade. Peter appears as the leader of the group. The others follow him. They spend a whole night fishing, yet they catch nothing. They lack light. Not only the light of the sun, but also the light that is Jesus. At dawn, Jesus appears on the lake shore. He shouts to them: Cast your nest on the right side. They trust in Him. Surprise! A miraculous catch of fish. The nest is filled to the breaking point. A first lesson was taught: “Without me, you can do nothing.” They rush out to Him.
Once on land, the meal takes place. Peter brings part of the freshly caught fish. It is, moreover, the fruit of everyone's work. Recognition takes place: they know, without question, that it is the Master. He distributes the bread and the fish, and the community that had dispersed after Christ's arrest is reestablished. But something remains to be done: for Peter to be convinced that he has been forgiven.
Peter’s three denials during Jesus’ Passion find three affirmations of affection at the apparition by the Sea of Galilee. Peter is asked 3 times, “Do you love me more than these?” Against the "no's," there are "yes's." It is a question of love. The love that Peter never lacked, even though fear overcame him at the moment of truth. At his successive positive answers, Jesus tells him, “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” Jesus then announced Peter’s future martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel, concluding with the call “Follow me!” These words are addressed to Peter personally, not to the other apostles. When his faith has been reaffirmed, the time comes for him to be commissioned as the head of the group, of the nascent Church.
From that moment on, the Apostles became fishers of men, fulfilling the Master's command, "obeying God rather than men." That small group progressively grew into a big church, thanks to the bold preaching of the witnesses of the resurrection. They transmitted the message of life that they had heard and seen. "The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree." Jesus is alive. He has given them his Spirit to strengthen them on their mission.
We have just attended the funeral of Pope Francis, and the Church is preparing the conclave beginning this Wednesday, May 7, 2025, that will elect the new Pope. We continue to pray for the future of the Church. In this context, the liturgy presents us with the call of the first Pope, Saint Peter. Could it be just a coincidence? Or, rather, is it God's passing through our lives? Because He is always there, even if we sometimes struggle to see Him, and the Word always enlightens us.
The Pope at the Vatican, in Rome, or at any place, is the successor of Peter. His mission is to preserve the unity of the Church. The twelve Apostles and their successors will have to proclaim the message of Jesus’s Salvation to the whole world, demonstrating God's love through their service and actions. They must remain united under One Head. The Church founded by Jesus can be marred by division, confusion, and rivalry, but Jesus’s presence and message of Unity and Love are the beacon of Unity.
The Official Newsletter of the Caribbean Studies Association
Balancing Duty with Serious Fun in St. Martin
Today, as we observe the turmoil caused by conflict and other global shifts, it is easy to become despondent, especially in the Caribbean, a space vulnerable to outside shocks. From increasing food insecurity, looming travel restrictions, and despot diplomacy by the US government, Caribbean leaders are challenged in unprecedented ways and are already bracing citizens for uncertainties ahead.
The region is already coping with challenges like climate crisis, brain-drain of some of most needed professionals like nurses and teachers, and increased (neo)colonialism. Recently, CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley referred to these as “the most challenging times of our region since the majority of our members gained their independence.” Mottley further urged Caribbean citizens to support each other and tap into the strength and innovation of the “common Caribbean spirit.”
As academics, we too are duty-bound regardless to where we are currently stationed. I have argued before that it is not enough for us as to hope that our work will improve life for the peoples of the Caribbean, as optimism requires activism. Looking toward the next 50 years of CSA, I believe we must use our collective and individual talents to leave our region (and the rest of the planet) better than when we found it.
I am looking forward to our time together at the conference when we can share solutions to challenges and further empower our people in the Caribbean and the diaspora. But I am also insisting that you fully partake in what we in St. Martin call serious fun.
Rhoda Arrindell
President CSA 2024-2025
At least 1,617 people killed in the first quarter of 2025 in Haiti
Port-au-Prince, 30 April 2025: During the first quarter of 2025, the human rights situation in Haiti remained extremely worrying, marked by mass crimes, kidnappings and sexual violence.
Between 1 January and 31 March 2025, at least 1,617 people were killed and 580 injured in violence involving gangs, self-defence groups and members of the population, as well as in operations carried out by security forces. At the same time, over the same period, at least 161 kidnappings for ransom were documented, 63% of which took place in the Artibonite department.
The first quarter was marked by the intensification of the activities of criminal groups to expand their territorial influence in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and its surroundings. The communes of Delmas and Kenscoff were particularly targeted, with the aim of destabilising Pétion-Ville. In addition, these same gangs carried out large-scale attacks against the communes of Mirebalais and Saut d'Eau, in the Centre department, to take control of roads leading to the Dominican Republic, but also to allow the escape of more than 515 inmates from the Mirebalais prison.
During the first quarter, the actions of self-defence groups as well as those of unorganized members of the population, carried out within the framework of the movement commonly known as "Bwa Kalé", remained a major source of human rights violations and resulted in the deaths of at least 189 people accused of belonging to gangs or committing ordinary crimes.
The report expresses concern about the high number of people killed during security force operations. At least 802 people were killed in these operations, about 20% of whom were members of the population that were struck by stray bullets while on the streets or in their homes. In addition, there were 65 cases of summary executions allegedly committed by elements of the police and the government commissioner of Miragoâne.
The report also highlights the serious consequences of gang activities on women and children. During this quarter, more than 333 survivors of sexual violence were identified, 96% of whom were victims of rape, often gang rape, perpetrated by gang members. In addition, at least 35 children have been killed and ten others have been injured in gang attacks, police operations or acts of mob justice. Many other children have been trafficked and forced to join gangs.
In the face of these abuses and human rights violations, and despite the continuing dysfunction of the judicial system, authorities have launched several initiatives to combat impunity, with the support of the United Nations. The Transitional Presidential Council and the government have adopted a decree creating specialized judicial units to deal with mass crimes, sexual violence and financial crimes. More than 114 rape cases have also been examined by investigating judges across the country. The fact remains that progress on emblematic cases remains slow, in particular those related to arms trafficking, the assassination of the President of the Republic and the various massacres documented since 2018.