Haitian pastor Molis Augustave deported to Haiti by ICE

Molis Augustave, a Haitian pastor living in the United States, has been deported to Haiti by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His removal follows a 19-day period of detention and legal disputes regarding his migratory status.

Augustave was initially detained during a routine traffic stop in West Manchester, Pennsylvania, in early September. Although he had been living in the U.S. since 2016 and had previously benefited from temporary protected status, a judge had ordered his removal in 2018. His legal team attempted to halt the deportation by requesting the Board of Immigration Appeals to reopen his case and filing an urgent request to suspend removal while his green card application was being reviewed.

Advocacy group We Are CASA reported that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rejected Augustave’s application for permanent residency without providing an explanation. Despite a national campaign involving religious leaders and politicians that successfully removed him from a previous flight to prevent his immediate departure, he was ultimately deported. Legal advocates have criticized the decision, stating that the government is treating due process as a revocable privilege.