WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States government plans to deport a Haitian national for allegedly engaging in “a campaign of violence and gang support”.

Rubio said the unidentified Haitian national has jeopardised “US foreign policy objectives regarding Haiti and the safety of the United States”.

“I am pleased to announce the latest US actions against an individual whose presence and activities in our country has potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States,” Rubio said. “The Department of State has determined that a Haitian national who engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support should no longer remain in the United States.”

“Based on my determination as Secretary of State, the Department of Homeland Security will initiate removal charges against this individual,” said Rubio, stating that, under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, “an alien is deportable from our country if the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe that the alien’s presence or activities in the United States would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States”.

“And I determined in this case, it does. The era of impunity in Haiti is over. This and other actions taken against those destabilising Haiti demonstrate the Trump administration’s firm commitment to protecting the American people, advancing our national security interests and promoting regional security.”

Earlier this week, US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said that Washington was “publicly designating Arnel Belizaire, a former member of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, and Antonio Cheramy, a former Haitian Senator, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office”.

Pigott said this action “renders Belizaire, Cheramy, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States”.

“Belizaire and Cheramy abused their positions by interfering with public processes of the Haitian government. These corrupt and destructive acts had serious effects on US national interests by further destabilising Haiti’s institutions and processes,” he said.

Pigott said the designations “reaffirm the United States’ commitment to ensuring accountability for individuals who contribute to the destabilisation of Haiti”.