Haitian lawyer and political figure André Michel was barred on Saturday, July 26, from traveling to the United States.
Scheduled to board a Sunrise Airways flight to Florida, the man who once declared himself “avoka pèp la” (the people’s lawyer) was reportedly blocked at the Cap-Haïtien airport, Haiti’s second-largest city, located in the north.
As of Sunday, July 27, no official explanation had been provided regarding the reason for the U.S. entry ban. However, according to local media outlets including Métronome and Radio Télé Image, the leader of the Democratic and Popular Sector (SDP) may be on a blacklist that includes both former and current Haitian officials, political figures, and influential members of the business sector whose U.S. visas have been revoked. These individuals are accused of contributing to Haiti’s ongoing instability and worsening violence over the past several years.
Sunrise Airways reportedly informed André Michel that his U.S. visa had been canceled. According to local media, the political leader was not even allowed to pass through immigration at the Cap-Haïtien airport.
A longtime activist lawyer, Michel André rose to prominence on the national political scene during the PHTK regime (2011–2021). He played a central role in several high-profile legal cases involving government officials and was one of the leading voices of opposition and mobilization against the administrations of Michel Martelly and Jovenel Moïse.
However, the popular support he had once built as the self-styled “people’s lawyer” quickly began to erode when he joined Ariel Henry’s transitional government, becoming one of its most vocal defenders—even as the administration struggled to address the most basic needs of the Haitian people. Since then, Michel has faced harsh criticism from many Haitians, particularly on social media, where he frequently shares his views on current affairs.
With His U.S. Visa Revoked, Michel André Declares Presidential Ambition
This is not the first time Michel’s U.S. visa has been revoked. He was subjected to a similar measure in April 2015, during his opposition to the then PHTK regime. Several other Haitian political figures have had their visas canceled in the past by U.S. authorities.
Just hours after being denied entry to the United States, Michel André officially announced his intention to run for Haiti’s presidency in the next election.
“I am announcing my presidential ambitions for the upcoming elections. I will present a political platform focused on security, economic and social development, and national sovereignty. The elimination of armed gangs is my top priority! Nou pa nan dyalòg ak gang!” wrote the controversial lawyer and political figure on his XX account, formerly Twitter.
His announcement has already sparked strong reactions across Haiti. Some observers view it as a distraction, suggesting that André Michel is using the announcement to deflect attention from the humiliation he experienced at the Cap-Haïtien airport on July 26.
