Haitian-American voters traditionally support Democratic candidates, particularly in the presidential election, and in South Florida they are hoping that the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will mean an end to deportation and a path to citizenship for many.
“The Biden-Harris win for Haitians is momentous,” said Sandy Dorsainvil, who manages the Little Haiti Cultural Center and introduced Biden when he appeared there Oct. 5 before the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network. “This win puts the Haitian American community on a path to an extension to TPS and hopefully a road to residency and or citizenship. It also validates the community as a powerful voting bloc.”
President Donald Trump had suspended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program that halted deportations and provided a path to citizenship for many Haitians.
As a candidate, Joe Biden promised to reinstate that program and, in the Little Haiti campaign appearance, Biden directly addressed the needs of Haitian-Americans, saying, “I promise you there will be no quit on my part as your president, making sure the Haitian community has an even shot, that it’s back on its feet, and moves in the direction to be able to realize its incredible potential.”
Observers are cautiously optimistic.
“A Biden-Harris administration means Haitians in the U.S. need to finally come together to put pressure on the Democratic Party to live up its election promises in the next four years,” said Johnson Napoleon, well-known entrepreneur and social media influencer. “It also means better economic opportunities, immigration reform, health care and meaningful welfare reform.”
Biden delivered a message of unity and healing in his first address to the nation as president-elect, an address delayed until the election was finally called for him on Saturday, Nov. 7.
He promised to be the leader of “the whole people.” He also spoke directly to Black voters, whose support was key: “The African American community stood up again for me. You’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours,” Biden said, pounding his lectern as he spoke.
Joy in South Florida’s Haitian Community was tempered with disappointment that, despite Biden’s win in Miami-Dade County — Florida’s most populous and home to its largest Haitian community — the state as a whole had gone to Trump, who continued to dispute the results of the election.
Trump had broken political tradition and managed to attract many Haitian-Americans in his 2016 victory over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, but there’s a sense that Democrats have regained this support and trust.
Biden won by wide margins in precincts with large Haitian-American numbers, including North Miami where one-third of the population are Haitians.
North Miami Vice-mayor Alix Desulme sees the Biden-Harris win as very significant and a reason for hope for Haitians in the U.S.
“A Biden-Harris administration means a lot for Haitians and also for Haiti. This is a new day for the whole Haitian diaspora in the U.S.; much better life and much better policies in favor of Haitians are ahead,” said Desulme, president of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON).
“I am confident that this new administration will resolve some domestic issues Haitians in the U.S. are facing now under the Trump administration,” Desulme said. “Regarding Haiti, I am also confident that Biden-Harris administration will implement better policies to put emphasis in the democratic process for the best of our brothers and sisters living in Haiti, compared to the Trump administration which seems to normalize what is actually going on in the motherland.”
Maignan does not share Desulme’s optimism.
Patrick Maignan is CEO of Cargo Logistics, a North Miami Beach-based company. He describes himself as a former Democrat who turned Independent, and says Biden didn’t do much for Haitians during his eight years as vice president under President Barack Obama.
“Based on American political tradition towards the Haitian diaspora and Haiti, there is no need to be too excited. I don’t recall much about what this past Democrat administration had done in terms of local issues to impact positively the life of Haitians in the U.S.
“Is Biden going to do something good for the Haitian community?” he continued. “I doubt it, since there had been no sign in that direction in the past. I wish that Joe Biden in 2021 will be a changed man.”
Maignan said leadership needs to come from the local Haitian-American community. “If we don’t have competent community leaders who are capable to articulate our needs, people who can come up with clear agenda for the best interest of all, then it will not be fair to put the blame of our poor situation on Joe Biden,” he said.
And as for attempting to influence the situation in Haiti?
“I heard some people already plan to ask the new administration to help change the political power in Haiti, taking out the actual administration. Once they do that, they are going to be in contradiction with themselves, because they are the same people who always complaining about other nations interference in Haiti’s affairs. In my opinion, the best to do is asking the new administration to help us become a strong community financially, in areas such as education and health, and from there we as Haitians we can weight ourselves in the political system in Haiti to change the status quo,” Maignan said.
Marleine Bastien, a prominent community leader who was vocal in efforts to urge Haitian Americans to vote Democratic, did not respond to requests for comments from Le Floridien.
Dessalines Ferdinand
ferdinand@lefloridien.com
Biden does not have to target specifically the Haitian community to do something for them. We have to remember that the U.S. is a melting pot; a blended public policy should have something for each community. For instance, anything to advance the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a path to citizenship is a win for all immigrants, including Haitians, who currently are beneficiating from those policies.