Haitian businessman Pierre Réginald Boulos, a former presidential hopeful and influential figure within Haiti’s economic elite, will remain in detention in the United States.
The ruling was issued Thursday by a federal immigration judge during a closed-door hearing held at the Krome North Processing Center in Miami.
Boulos was apprehended earlier this month at his residence in South Florida and now faces allegations from U.S. authorities of actively supporting armed groups accused of destabilizing his home country.
According to a statement released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), officials contend that Boulos “engaged in a campaign of violence and support for gangs that contributed to the destabilization of Haiti.”
A magnate who built his fortune in the automotive and retail sectors, Boulos is, as of now, the most prominent Haitian national to be detained since President Donald Trump launched a sweeping crackdown on networks allegedly supporting transnational terrorism, particularly in connection with the crisis in Haiti, ABC News reported.
The July 31 hearing was closed to both the public and the press, a fact confirmed by the Associated Press in its report published by ABC News.
While no official transcript or summary of the hearing has been made public, a source familiar with the case, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity, said the judge denied the request for Boulos’s release submitted by his legal team.
Outside the detention center, approximately 15 demonstrators gathered to oppose the potential return of Boulos to Haiti. Some protesters held signs reading, “If Boulos returns to Haiti, he won’t remain in prison. Justice in Haiti belongs to the gangs.”
Others called for his transfer to a third country, including El Salvador, or even to Guantánamo Bay. One provocative sign read, “Send Boulos under the sea.”
To date, U.S. authorities have not released any official documentation detailing the allegations against Boulos. However, following his arrest, ICE disclosed that the businessman had failed to disclose, in his green card application, his role in founding a political party in Haiti and a pending indictment in Haitian courts on allegations of loan misappropriation.
ICE also stated that the U.S. State Department has identified several lawful permanent residents who “have supported and collaborated with Haitian gang leaders affiliated with Viv Ansanm, a designated foreign terrorist organization in Haiti.”
In a federal statement cited by ABC News, officials said: “The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of lawful status in our country while facilitating criminal organizations or supporting foreign terrorist entities abroad.”
A former president of Haiti’s National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Boulos was a leading player in the country’s formal economy, overseeing supermarket chains, auto dealerships, and various other businesses.
Born in the United States, Boulos renounced his American citizenship in 2020 to run for president in Haiti—a race that never materialized. He later obtained U.S. permanent residency in 2024 under the Biden administration.
Boulos has consistently denied numerous allegations of corruption brought against him in Haiti.
https://ctninfo.com/?p=35832&preview=true
Source: ABC News
