Xenophobia against Haitians and other Black migrants is rooted in historical US anti-Blackness
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI): Xenophobia against Haitians and other Black migrants is rooted in historical US anti-Blackness
September 11th, 2024 – The post US presidential debate internet memes about migrants eating cats and dogs are hilarious, however, the consequences of xenophobia are devastating. As you laugh, the Biden administration continues to gut asylum, a legacy that Harris will carry on; and as in his previous term, Trump will once again massively restrict immigration including possibly reinstating the Muslim ban.
It doesn’t matter how we plate it, xenophobia is harmful and dangerous to migrant communities. Stoking xenophobic flames results in restrictive immigration policies, increased surveillance, criminalization of migrants and hate crimes. As always, Black migrants are always disproportionately impacted.
The history of anti-Blackness and Haitians in the United States is not new – our whole asylum system and the change in asylum law as we know it stems from the rise of Haitian migrants seeking asylum in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. And from there we can see a specific growth of xenophobia that led to the 1994 crime bill and the 1996 IIRIRA (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act) laws which we now know as the formal detention policies we have today.
Ronald Claude, BAJI’s Policy Director: “This narrative about Haitian migrants that we are seeing today is based on racist policies that saw the US government detain Black Haitians in Florida and Guantanamo Bay while at the same time admitting white Cubans into the US. The dehumanization of Black migrants is a constant thread in this country’s history – and today we see similar racial inequities with Ukrainians vs Black and brown migrants at the US southern border and within the country. The question we must ask ourselves is why are Black migrants a burden for this country and why are white migrants welcomed?”
Claude: “President Trump and his team have a long history of using shocking racist and xenophobic rhetoric regarding Haitians. In his first term, he infamously referred to certain countries as “shithole countries,” highlighting a pattern of employing immigration and the arrival of Black migrants as divisive political tools. This rhetoric gains traction partly because those who should be defending the rights of Black migrants often accept and propagate the false narrative that Black migrants are responsible for this country’s struggles.
If only Democrats had developed creative solutions and allocated resources for Haitian migrants and other Black migrants needing permanent protection, similar to what was done for Ukrainians, this issue would not resurface as frequently. The shocking images of border patrol, under the Biden/Harris administration, whipping Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas are etched in our memories. Each and every time, Haitians and Black migrants are left to advocate for our dignity and rights.”
Over the past few years, BAJI has documented how the Biden/Harris administration’s immigration policies are anti-Black: see our statements- Biden administration’s rejection of Cuban and Haitian asylum seekers is anti-Black, Biden’s 2024 bi-partisan border plan is racist, among others.
The offensive and ignorant portrayal of Haitians eating cats and dogs is just as reprehensible as the false narratives pushed against them. Such narratives persist, especially during election cycles, because Haitians are still dealing with the repercussions of being the first Black nation to free itself from colonial rule.
Claude, who is Haitian American: “On a personal note, Haitian cuisine is celebrated worldwide for its flavor, variety, and rich representation of our culture and history. It’s a testament to the resilience and vibrancy of the Haitian people.”