Rep. Wilson called Haiti too dangerous to deport Haitians back to, but critizied Trump in 2018 when he spoke out about the country’s poor state of affairs.
Representative Frederica Wilson of Florida is sharply criticizing the Trump administration over its move to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, calling the decision a “kiss of death” and warning that deporting Haitians back to their home country puts lives at risk.
“Deporting Haitians back to Haiti is a kiss of death. How can the Department of Homeland Security say it’s safe to return to Haiti, while the State Department is still warning Americans not to travel there?” she posted on X.
“Haiti is not safe! It’s riddled with gang violence and political turmoil,” she continued. “THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE CANNOT ABSORB DEPORTEES. THIS NEWS IS INSANITY ON STEROIDS AND IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO MY COMMUNITY.”
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View on XLast month, Wilson also responded on social media to the Supreme Court’s ruling that granted the president’s request to revoke humanitarian parole protections for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
“This decision is cruel and inhumane. These are folks who were escaping brutal dictatorships, gang violence, and turmoil,” Wilson said after the ruling. “These Cubans, Haitians, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans came here legally and contribute to our South Florida community. Deporting them is a death sentence.”
Wilson’s admittance of Haiti’s poor state of affairs has been blasted by many online who accused her of hypocrisy, as she previously spoke out against Trump when he described Haiti in harsh terms during his first administration. In 2018, after Trump reportedly referred to Haiti as a “sh*thole” country, Wilson announced she would boycott his State of the Union address, writing, “I cannot in good consciousness attend the #SOTU address after the president went so low in his remarks about Haiti & African nations. It would be hypocrisy to go to an event at which he is honored.”
The controversy at the time prompted a wave of celebrity responses defending Haiti. Comedian Conan O’Brien traveled to the country to film a special episode and handed out merchandise with the phrase “Haiti is great already,” a slogan also promoted by figures like Bill Maher.
Now, as Wilson warns of the dangers of deporting Haitians back to their home country, critics argue that Democrats who once rejected Trump’s negative depiction of Haiti are now using similar descriptions to oppose his policies.
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