Latest news with #ThirdWayMovement
International Business Times
22-07-2025
- Politics
- International Business Times
Who is Pierre Réginald Boulos? Former Presidential Candidate Arrested by ICE for Supporting Violent Groups and Concealing Vital Details
Federal agents in Miami have arrested Pierre Réginald Boulos, a prominent Haitian businessman, doctor, and former presidential candidate. His detention has been verified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as of last Thursday. He was arrested at his home in South Florida. This is one of the most high-profile arrests made by ICE so far. Boulos was arrested for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to ICE. He is accused of promoting activities that fuel gang violence, leading to Haiti's general instability. Officials believe his conduct will work against U.S. foreign policy. Despite being born in the U.S., Boulos renounced his American citizenship to run for president in Haiti. He later obtained lawful permanent residency in 2023 under the Biden administration. But ICE now alleges that he hid his political allegiances and old legal entanglements while applying for residency. Last year, Boulos founded the Third Way Movement political party, which directly challenged the previous president, Jovenel Moïse. ICE says Boulos didn't tell them he had been referred for prosecution in Haiti for allegedly misappropriating loans—an allegation he has disputed. He is currently detained at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami. Human rights activists have criticized this center for overcrowding and poor conditions. Boulos was once president of Haiti's National Chamber of Commerce and founder of several companies. He remained active in Haitian politics until the assassination of President Moïse in 2021. Gang violence has soared in Haiti since then. His arrest comes as tensions between the United States and Haiti have intensified over American immigration policies that have targeted people from the country. Advocacy groups fear increased deportations. "I have said this from day one: You have to put the emphasis on criminals, not on people who are trying to seek refuge, trying to look for a better way to live or escape political persecution," said Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American candidate for Congress. Boulos had yet to make a public statement, and his legal team didn't reply to a request for comment from the media. To this day, he is the highest-profile Haitian figure arrested by ICE.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
ICE arrests ex-presidential candidate as Trump's immigration dragnet ensnares highest-profile victim yet
Federal agents in Florida have arrested Pierre Réginald Boulos, a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful. ICE released a statement on Monday saying they detained Boulos, 68, on Thursday for 'engaging in a campaign of violence and gang support'. An anonymous official familiar with the arrest said agents detained the lawful permanent resident at his home in Miami. Boulos was born in the US but renounced his citizenship to run for the president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his permanent residency status last year under the Biden administration. ICE said on Monday that Boulos was detained for 'violating the Immigration and Nationality Act contributing to the destabilization of Haiti'. 'The Department of State determined that Boulos' presence or activities in the United States would have potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, providing a basis for the charge of removability,' the statement reads. 'Specifically, officials determined that he engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti's destabilization.' ICE has also accused Boulos of 'failing to disclose his involvement in the formation of a political party in Haiti' in his application to become a lawful permanent resident of the US. In 2019 Boulos created the Third Way Movement, a political party opposing the 'shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are working to bog down the country and increase the suffering of the people,' he said at the time, per local media. The party promptly stated it would seek 'a historic political compromise that would facilitate the negotiated departure from power of Jovenel Moïse.' ICE also accused Boulos of failing to disclose 'that he was referred for prosecution by the Haitian government for allegedly 'misusing loans', which he has previously denied. Boulos is the most high-profile Haitian arrested to date by ICE agents. An attorney for Boulos could not be immediately reached for comment. He is being held at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a detention center that Human Rights Watch said in a recent report is one of three in Florida that are grossly over capacity and 'flagrantly violate international human rights standards.' Boulos founded several businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Boulos visited Haiti's central region in August 2019 as he rallied for support for his political party. 'I am part of the system that must be destroyed,' he was quoted as saying by Le Nouvelliste newspaper. 'I know how to destroy it.' Moïse served as president from 2017 until he was gunned down at his private residence in July 2021. Dozens of suspects were arrested, including seventeen former Colombian soldiers who are still being interrogated by Haitian authorities. Court documents have stated that those involved in the plot included Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor, doctor and failed businessman who envisioned himself as Haiti's new leader. Elections have not been held since Moïse was killed. Gang violence surged in the political vacuum that ensued, and Boulos soon returned to the US. The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program. Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American running for US Congress, said he has been working with the administration to avoid deporting people 'just for the fun of it.' 'If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,' he said on Monday. 'But if you deport someone who doesn't commit any crime who's here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal agents in Miami arrest a prominent Haitian businessman and once presidential hopeful
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Federal agents in Miami have arrested Pierre Réginald Boulos, a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful. The arrest occurred at Boulos' home in South Florida late last week, a person familiar with the arrest said Monday. Boulos was born in the United States but renounced his citizenship to run for president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his U.S residency last year under the Biden administration. Boulos, who previously has denied a flurry of corruption allegations, is the most well-known Haitian arrested to date by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It wasn't immediately clear why Boulos was arrested. ICE did not return a message seeking details. An attorney for Boulos could not be immediately reached for comment. Boulos was being held at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a detention center that Human Rights Watch said in a recent report is one of three in Florida that are grossly over capacity and 'flagrantly violate international human rights standards.' Boulos founded several businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2019, he created the Third Way Movement, a political party in contrast to the "shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are working to bog down the country and increase the suffering of the people,' he said at the time, according to local media. The party promptly stated it would seek "a historic political compromise that would facilitate the negotiated departure from power of Jovenel Moïse.' Boulos visited Haiti's central region in August 2019 as he rallied for support. 'I am part of the system that must be destroyed," he was quoted as saying by Le Nouvelliste newspaper. 'I know how to destroy it.' Moïse served as president from 2017 until he was gunned down at his private residence in July 2021. Dozens of suspects were arrested, including seventeen former Colombian soldiers who are still being interrogated by Haitian authorities. Court documents have stated that those involved in the plot included Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor, doctor and failed businessman who envisioned himself as Haiti's new leader. Elections have not been held since Moïse was killed. Gang violence surged in the political vacuum that ensued, and Boulos soon returned to the U.S. The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program. Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American running for U.S. Congress, said he has been working with the administration to avoid deporting people 'just for the fun of it.' 'If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,' he said over the phone on Monday. 'But if you deport someone who doesn't commit any crime who's here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.' Dánica Coto, The Associated Press Erreur lors de la récupération des données Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données Erreur lors de la récupération des données
Associated Press
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Federal agents in Miami arrest a prominent Haitian businessman and once presidential hopeful
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Federal agents in Miami have arrested Pierre Réginald Boulos, a well-known Haitian businessman, doctor and former presidential hopeful. The arrest occurred at Boulos' home in South Florida late last week, a person familiar with the arrest said Monday. Boulos was born in the United States but renounced his citizenship to run for president of Haiti in recent years. He obtained his U.S residency last year under the Biden administration. Boulos, who previously has denied a flurry of corruption allegations, is the most well-known Haitian arrested to date by agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It wasn't immediately clear why Boulos was arrested. ICE did not return a message seeking details. An attorney for Boulos could not be immediately reached for comment. Boulos was being held at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, a detention center that Human Rights Watch said in a recent report is one of three in Florida that are grossly over capacity and 'flagrantly violate international human rights standards.' Boulos founded several businesses while in Haiti, where he served as president of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In 2019, he created the Third Way Movement, a political party in contrast to the 'shameless elite and the unscrupulous politicians who are working to bog down the country and increase the suffering of the people,' he said at the time, according to local media. The party promptly stated it would seek 'a historic political compromise that would facilitate the negotiated departure from power of Jovenel Moïse.' Boulos visited Haiti's central region in August 2019 as he rallied for support. 'I am part of the system that must be destroyed,' he was quoted as saying by Le Nouvelliste newspaper. 'I know how to destroy it.' Moïse served as president from 2017 until he was gunned down at his private residence in July 2021. Dozens of suspects were arrested, including seventeen former Colombian soldiers who are still being interrogated by Haitian authorities. Court documents have stated that those involved in the plot included Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a pastor, doctor and failed businessman who envisioned himself as Haiti's new leader. Elections have not been held since Moïse was killed. Gang violence surged in the political vacuum that ensued, and Boulos soon returned to the U.S. The arrest comes as the Trump administration seeks to end legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Haitians after announcing it would revoke such protections for those who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program. Rod Joseph, a Haitian-American running for U.S. Congress, said he has been working with the administration to avoid deporting people 'just for the fun of it.' 'If the president goes after criminals, no one is against that,' he said over the phone on Monday. 'But if you deport someone who doesn't commit any crime who's here seeking a better life, this is when we start having issues with the practice.'
