Haitian diaspora groups sue Trump, Vance and others for $550 million over false claims targeting immigrants

The Haitian Diaspora Political Action Committee (HDPAC) and the Office of the Haitian Diaspora (ODIHA) filed a $550 million federal lawsuit on September 28 against former President Donald J. Trump, US Senator JD Vance, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana and tech mogul Elon Musk, among others, for orchestrating a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of Haitian immigrants.

The suit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, accuses the defendants of inciting hostility and violence against Haitian migrants, specifically those in Springfield, Ohio.

According to the plaintiffs, harmful and false narratives propagated about Haitian immigrants, including defamatory allegations that they engaged in criminal activities such as stealing and eating residents’ pets, not only endangered families, but damaged and reputation and put their safety. at risk.

Those claims, which local officials and media reports have denied, have been amplified on social media and public platforms, notably by Musk’s X platform, formerly Twitter. Haitian American leaders say these racially charged statements were designed to incite fear, hatred and violence against the Haitian community in the US.

“This lawsuit seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their reckless and defamatory conduct that endangered the lives of Haitian migrants,” said Ralph Francois, counsel for the plaintiffs.

“No one is above the law, not even a former president or sitting officials.”

The suit also names Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost for his inaction in violating the rights of Haitian immigrants in the state, US House Representative Clay Higgins of Louisiana for tweeting racist rants about Haitians and Elon Musk, whose platform is accused that it was used. as a vehicle to spread misinformation and hatred towards Haitian immigrants.

Musk’s acquisition of Twitter — now X — in 2022 led to concerns about lax content moderation, allowing the platform to proliferate hate speech and conspiracy theories.

On Wednesday, Higgins posted on X that “Haitians are savages” and that Haiti is “the ugliest country in the Western Hemisphere.”

He also promoted the false claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio eat pets. “All these thugs better get their minds right and get out of our country before January 20th,” the post read.

“American children in Haiti have been traumatized by these lies. Families are put under incredible stress, and hardworking members of the Haitian community who contribute to this country are demonized.”

Jean D. Vernet, President of the Haitian Diaspora Political Action Committee

The impact of false claims and racist rhetoric on Haitians and Haitian Americans

Trump has a history of negative comments about Haitian immigrants. In 2018, Trump referred to Haiti and African nations as “damn countries”, prompting international backlash. The Haitian diaspora PAC lawsuit also references a 2019 court ruling in Saget v. Trump, which found that Trump’s remarks were likely racially motivated and influenced his administration’s attempt to end temporary protection status ( TPS) for Haitian citizens.

Trump’s negative portrayal of Haitian immigrants is part of a larger pattern of hostility toward immigrants during his presidency. His administration’s effort to end TPS for Haiti, as well as his plan to build a border wall and restrict asylum, have particularly affected black and brown immigrants. His frequent false claims about immigrants bringing disease, crime and drugs to the US have been repeatedly debunked, but remain powerful in fueling anti-immigrant sentiment.

Haitian Diaspora PAC and ODIHA claim Trump and Vance’s false narratives directly affected Haitian immigrants in Springfield (and other US cities), leading to a wave of bomb threats and chaos in the city, harassment and increased fear within Haiti . the american community. Families report that their children have been bullied in schools due to defamatory statements, which have caused significant emotional distress.

“American children in Haiti have been traumatized by these lies,” said Jean D. Vernet, Haitian Diaspora PAC president.

“Families are under tremendous stress, and hardworking Haitians who contribute to this country are being demonized.”

The suit seeks $550 million in compensatory and punitive damages and seeks injunctive relief to prevent further civil rights violations. Plaintiffs hope the lawsuit will expose a racially motivated conspiracy to harm Haitians and stop the spread of dangerous rhetoric.

David L. Alexis, president of ODIHA, emphasized that the case is about more than just financial compensation. “This trial is about sending a message that hateful rhetoric targeting vulnerable communities will not go unchallenged,” he said.

In addition to this federal lawsuit filed against Trump and Vance, the Republican presidential candidate and his running mate also face criminal charges in Ohio for their ongoing false claims about Haitian immigrants.

On September 24, the Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA), an immigration advocacy organization, took legal action to hold Trump and Vance accountable for the devastating harm they have caused to the Haitian community in Springfield and Haitians in the United States. This criminal complaint is also intended to have far-reaching consequences beyond the Haitian and Haitian American communities.

Guerline Jozef, HBA’s executive director, said: “This is about confronting the white supremacy, anti-black rhetoric and hate speech that seems to be a constant in US politics and continues to cause suffering. No one is above the law.”

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