More details have emerged about the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Haitian businessman Reginald Boulos.
The MTV founder was apprehended by U.S. immigration authorities at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
He is currently detained in Miami, suspected of violations related to his immigration status.
According to documents reviewed by the Miami Herald, Boulos must soon appear before an immigration judge at the Krome detention center. No criminal charges have been confirmed, and authorities have not yet made an official statement about the exact reasons for his detention.
Contrary to information circulating on social media, Reginald Boulos was not arrested in connection with the investigation into the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise. He has also not been charged with corruption, according to the Miami Herald.
Born in the United States but having renounced his American citizenship to run for presidency in Haiti, Boulos is considered one of the most prominent Haitian figures to be detained by the Trump administration as part of its strengthened immigration policies, the Miami Herald reported.
According to initial information, immigration agents identified irregularities in an application submitted by the controversial businessman. Born in New York, Reginald Boulos claims to have renounced his American nationality. He possessed a residence card that he had lost due to the length of his stays outside the United States. While attempting to recover his residence card, Reginald Boulos also reportedly applied for temporary protected status, which raised suspicions among U.S. immigration services.
At 69 years old, Reginald Boulos has distinguished himself as both a physician and entrepreneur. He is the creator of several major companies in Haiti, particularly in retail (Delimart), automotive (Autoplaza), hospitality (NH El Rancho), and state equipment sectors. He also contributed to the revival of the newspaper Le Matin.
U.S. authorities suspect Boulos of failing to declare certain political activities in Haiti during his applications for protection or residence in the United States. A source close to his family indicates that his applications were based on his status as a father of a legal resident, but the information provided was reportedly incomplete.
Boulos’s arrest has triggered numerous reactions in Haitian political and economic circles. His previous proximity to certain American diplomats and his influence in sensitive matters in Haiti make him a symbol of Haitian power targeted by the new American immigration direction.
Source: Miami Herald.
