Among the communities of the poorest Caribbean islands, there are also children suffering from serious heart conditions and facing an increasingly uncertain future. They had been given a chance: life-saving surgeries in the United States, organized by American NGOs. But now, that hope has been shattered by a presidential signature.
The new travel ban imposed by Donald Trump shuts the door on citizens from a dozen countries, including Haiti, unless they already possess a valid visa. The measure, justified by the government with concerns about security and immigration, has had an immediate and devastating impact on thousands of people. Among them are many minors awaiting critical surgeries, chronically ill patients, and families suddenly divided by impassable borders.
Humanitarian organizations and the doctors involved have expressed deep concern. Volunteers explain that it will be nearly impossible to find alternative facilities for all the affected patients. Even the few who had already planned their trips have been denied permission to leave. This is a heavy blow to an aid system that was already operating at its limit.
But the issue goes far beyond healthcare. Haiti, a country marked by violence, political instability, and institutional collapse, is deeply tied to the United States, through family, business, and cultural connections. The new immigration crackdown worsens the crisis of a nation where gangs have taken control of entire cities and over a million people have been forced to flee their homes.
Many citizens now live in limbo. Those with relatives in the U.S. fear they may never see them again. Those with businesses that depend on frequent travel between the two countries are considering shutting down entirely. And those who once placed trust in their northern ally now feel betrayed.
There have been few answers and much silence from the Haitian government. Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement saying it is seeking a “rapid solution,” but the urgency of the problems far exceeds the current institutional capacity.
Meanwhile, on the ground, those working in emergency response continue to do what they can. Some NGO directors emphasize how paradoxical it is that their Haitian staff can no longer access training programs in the U.S.–training that is essential to strengthening the nation’s healthcare autonomy. Others are calling on members of the U.S. administration to visit Haiti and witness firsthand the reality they are helping to endanger.
In a country already surviving on the edge, shutting down a humanitarian corridor can amount to a death sentence. And while diplomats hesitate and politicians build walls, the faint voice of those asking only for a chance to live still rises.
