As Haiti’s leaders bow before foreign masters and the West accelerates efforts to erase Black nations from history, Haitians in the diaspora must act now to secure their identity—or risk being written out of existence forever.
Opinion | The Haitian Pulse | July 17, 2025
It would be tragic if it weren’t so urgent: Haiti’s government, crumbling under the weight of its own corruption, wafts about its dignitaries in foreign capitals—seeking validation, aid, permission. Meanwhile, the Haitian diaspora stands at a dangerous crossroads. The threat isn’t only violence and poverty—it’s erasure: the threat of being stripped of heritage, citizenship, history.
As Western nations tighten immigration laws, dismantle asylum systems, and signal the revocation of rights—even for naturalized citizens—Haitians abroad are increasingly vulnerable. Trump-era policies in the U.S. opened the door to de-naturalization proceedings, potentially stripping naturalized Americans of their citizenship. Across Europe, countries have begun revoking passports for migrants deemed a security risk. In this global climate of exclusion, Haitian children born abroad are not immune.
This isn’t paranoia. This is preparedness.
Paspò Eritaj Dessalines: A Movement for Survival
HADUNAT’s campaign—“Paspò Eritaj Dessalines”—is not about nostalgia. It’s about preserving existence. The 1987 Haitian Constitution, amended in 2012, recognizes dual citizenship for all Haitians, including children born abroad. That means a Haitian passport is not a privilege—it’s a right.
The movement calls for every Haitian—living in Port-au-Prince or Miami—to claim their passport now.
Because waiting is not an option.
Because it’s not just about travel—it’s about belonging. A passport is a shield.
Why We Can’t Delay
Securing dual citizenship is more than symbolic—it’s strategic. Without it, Haitian descendants risk losing legal and cultural ties to their homeland. With authoritarian trends—like Trump's rhetoric targeting immigrants and citizens of color—it’s no longer enough to rely on another nation’s protection.
Adrienne Toussaint, a dual citizen and Haitian-American civil rights lawyer, warns: “When laws can strip naturalized citizens of their rights, legal citizenship becomes your strongest anchor—and the Haitian passport is part of that anchor.”
Europe isn’t immune. In France, activists have exposed proposals to revoke citizenship from immigrants convicted of “anti-republican behavior.” In Denmark and Austria, new laws are making it easier to separate asylum seekers from citizenship processes.
Huit millions of Haitians abroad must secure their Haitian identity before it’s denied to them.
The Constitutional Promise—and the Threat
Since declaring independence in 1804, Haiti protected the idea of citizenship as sacred. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, our country’s first leader, asserted that Haitians would never again live as stateless servants. In a proclamation to the army, he declared: “Nous naissons pour être libres; ou mourir ou vaincre!”—We are born to be free; either die free or win freedom.
The 2012 constitutional amendment made that ideal real. But ideals are only as strong as the people who defend them. With a disconnected, complacent government, and global waves of xenophobia, the Haitian diaspora must become the guardians of that citizenship—even from abroad.
Expert Legal Perspective
Renowned Haitian jurist Maud Celestin observes: “Dual citizenship is more than an option—it’s a constitutional obligation. Yet too few Haitians know they qualify, and fewer still have acted.”
Celestin notes that Haiti’s consulates must simplify the passport process and proactively reach out to diaspora communities. “Failing to do so could amount to betrayal of the constitution—on both sides of the ocean.”
Global Warning Signs
Trump-era measures weren’t isolated. In Britain, political rhetoric has targeted second-generation children for deportation—some never having set foot in the UK. In Canada, conservative policymakers proposed limiting dual citizenship rights for naturalized citizens involved in “extremist groups.” Lawmakers in the Netherlands recently pushed for retraction of citizenship for convicted terrorists—even if born in Dutch territory.
The trend is clear: even legally recognized citizens can lose their nationality. The Haitian diaspora must preemptively claim what belongs to them—before the gates close.
Diaspora Voices Ignite the Movement
“When Haiti turns its back on its own, who will protect me?”
—Katherine Pierre-Louis, Haitian-Canadian storyteller based in Toronto
“My little girl deserves proof that she belongs somewhere—no matter what happens abroad.”
—Jean-Marc Saintil, software engineer, dual citizen in New York
“I fled Haiti for safety. Now I must return—on paper at least—to preserve my rights.”
—Roseline Augustin, nurse, dual citizen in Paris
These voices are not talking about travel—they’re talking about survival, dignity, and the prevention of statelessness.
The Clock Is Ticking
There is no grace period. There is no global backstop. Once citizenship is stripped, legal recourse may be too late. Families can be split, property claims erased, voices silenced.
Without proactive action, Haiti’s diaspora risks:
-
Becoming stateless through policy shifts,
-
Losing cultural identity as subsequent generations grow disconnected,
-
Surrendering legal claims to land, inheritance, and rights in Haiti.
A passport is their lifeline—it proves they exist, belong, and cannot be ignored.
A Call to Action
-
Claim your Haitian passport now—for you and your children.
-
Visit your nearest Haitian embassy or consulate and demand your rights.
-
Form diaspora groups to support one another through the process.
-
Pressure Haitian consulates to simplify passport issuance and waive excessive fees.
-
Speak with diaspora lawyers to understand how dual citizenship secures legal rights abroad—and in Haiti.
-
Share your story before it’s erased.
Final Wake-Up Call
Haiti’s future depends not on foreign handouts, but on Haitian hearts—especially abroad. Paspò Eritaj Dessalines is not just a campaign—it is a defense.
If the reckless forces of xenophobia and de-naturalization have proven anything, it’s that the diaspora must claim identity before others try to take it away.
For Haiti’s ancestors, Dessalines and Pétion, fought not just for independence, but for memory—to ensure a Haitian could never be written out of history.
And now it falls to this generation to prove that citizenship isn’t just written on paper—it’s etched in blood, sweat, and ancestral pride.
Secure your passport. Secure your place. Let no one vanish our story.
Leave your thoughts below. Are you ready to claim your passport—and stand guard over your legacy?
The Haitian people—home and abroad—must stand together, before it's too late.
Comments