Penn Undergraduate Law Journal
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Masthead
    • Faculty Advisory Board
    • Partner Journals
    • Sponsors
  • Submissions
  • Full Issues
  • The Roundtable
    • Pre-Law Corner
  • Events
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Apply
    • FAQs
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Masthead
    • Faculty Advisory Board
    • Partner Journals
    • Sponsors
  • Submissions
  • Full Issues
  • The Roundtable
    • Pre-Law Corner
  • Events
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Apply
    • FAQs

The Roundtable


Welcome to the Roundtable, a forum for incisive commentary and analysis
on cases and developments in law and the legal system.


INTERESTED IN wRITING FOR tHE rOUNDTABLE?

Setting the Stage for Annexation: Analyzing U.S. Foreign Affairs with Haiti

12/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Alicia Augustin
Alicia Augustin is a first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania’s College of Arts and Sciences who plans to study Political Science and Urban Education. 
​

“Let Haitians Decide Their Own Future,” reads the sign held by the young Haitian protester in the photo above. This picture was taken at a protest on October 9, 2022 outside of the United States White House in which protesters demanded that the U.S. government stop supporting the illegitimate government of Haiti [1]. It is clear from this protest that some Haitian citizens and supporters do not appreciate the efforts by the U.S. to help Haiti because they believe that the negatives outweigh the positives.
United States foreign policy has historically involved peacekeeping or other types of intervention efforts. The American government is often involved in the governmental affairs of sovereign nations, targeting countries that are facing large scale issues that the U.S. government can help "fix." Haiti has suffered with many issues in the past, and current leadership faces monumental challenges, none of which are being adequately addressed. More recently, Haiti is facing numerous humanitarian problems including increased gang presence, high rates of killing and kidnappings, all under an unelected government [1]. Although these problems are not new to Haiti, efforts to address these issues haven’t been met with much success. Large efforts to “improve” the conditions of Haiti for its citizens has been taken on by the U.S. government several times. Most of the time, these failed efforts involve the U.S. invading Haiti to “restore order” [2]. 

There are many instances of American intervention in Haiti. In September 1994 the United States military invaded Haiti, forcing the Haitian military Junta to surrender [2]. Following this surrender, the U.S. continued to intervene in Haiti’s affairs by training the Haitian National Police forces, which proved to be ineffective because of deep corruption throughout the police force that came to light soon thereafter.[1]. The implication is that when the U.S. government repeatedly attempts to “fix” Haiti, more damage is done. Invasion is the primary solution deployed by the United States government in response to such large-scale problems, but the results leave much to be desired. It is conceivable that there are some factions within the United States that view these interventions as a step towards annexing Haiti, with each failed "fix" becoming support for future annexation. 

Annexation is the process of acquiring territory, typically through invasive efforts. While it would take a lot for the U.S. to successfully take over Haiti, the subtle efforts put forward by the U.S. military should not go unnoticed. Seemingly, the U.S. is “setting the stage” for annexation by depicting Haiti as a country that needs the U.S. Undoubtedly, foreign assistance could help improve the country but only in instances where this assistance is purely meant to benefit the people of that country. The U.S. government has demonstrated its neglect for the true welfare of Haitian citizens. This neglect has been recently emphasized by the extension of Temporary Protected Status. 

On December 5, 2022, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Maryokas, announced the 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti [3]. The date originally set to expire February 4, 2023 has now changed to August 3, 2023 granting Haitian nationals living in the U.S. a grace period of security and protection [3]. However, this status is not applicable to Haitians attempting to enter the U.S. after November 6, 2022 which is a questionable aspect of TPS [3]. 

Secretary Maryokas’ rationale behind pushing for the extension of TPS for Haiti is rooted in claims to assist Haiti due to the humanitarian crisis that is highly concerning [3]. He states, “The conditions in Haiti, including socioeconomic challenges, political instability, and gang violence and crime – aggravated by environmental disaster – compelled the humanitarian relief we are providing today” [3]. If this is the motivation behind extending TPS, why wouldn’t it apply to Haitians who are looking for refuge in the U.S. after the cutoff date that makes them ineligible? If the primary challenges that Haitian citizens face are centered in Haiti, it would make more sense for the U.S. to provide assistance to citizens who are truly endangered if the U.S. must intervene. 

While the extension of TPS for Haiti seems like a benevolent move at first glance, it’s at best a mixed bag for Haitians.When considered within the context of the U.S.’ history with Haiti, it seems unlikely that the U.S. has no ulterior motives. The U.S. government has historically and consistently disregarded the human rights and necessities of Haitian citizens and TPS would not even aid citizens in Haiti who are seeking refuge from the conditions at home.
 

Works Cited
[1] Ciorciari, John D. “Intervening in Haiti, Again.” Foreign Policy, October 21, 2022. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/10/21/haiti-foreign-intervention-united-nations-peacekeepin/.

[2] Cameron, Chris. “As U.S. Navigates Crisis in Haiti, a Bloody History Looms Large.” The New York Times. The New York Times, December 19, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/19/us/politics/us-haiti-intervention.html.
​

[3] “Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for 18 Months.” Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for 18 Months | Homeland Security. Accessed December 16, 2022. https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/12/05/secretary-mayorkas-extends-and-redesignates-temporary-protected-status-haiti-18. 

The opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions of the designated authors and do not reflect the opinions or views of the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal, our staff, or our clients.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    Akshita Tiwary
    Alana Bess
    Alana Mattei
    Albert Manfredi
    Alexander Saeedy
    Alexandra Aaron
    Alexandra Kanan
    Alice Giannini
    Alicia Augustin
    Alicia Kysar
    Ally Kalishman
    Ally Margolis
    Alya Abbassian
    Anika Prakash
    Anna Schwartz
    Ashley Kim
    Astha Pandey
    Audrey Pan
    Benjamin Ng'aru
    Brónach Rafferty
    Bryce Klehm
    Cary Holley
    Christina Gunzenhauser
    Christine Mitchell
    Christopher Brown
    Clarissa Alvarez
    Cole Borlee
    Connor Gallagher
    Dan Spinelli
    Dan Zhang
    David Katz
    Davis Berlind
    Derek Willie
    Dhilan Lavu
    Edgar Palomino
    Edna Simbi
    Emma Davies
    Esther Lee
    Evelyn Bond
    Filzah Belal
    Frank Geng
    Gabriel Maliha
    Georgia Ray
    Graham Reynolds
    Habib Olapade
    Hailie Goldsmith
    Haley Son
    Harshit Rai
    Henry Lininger
    Hetal Doshi
    Iris Zhang
    Irtaza Ali
    Isabela Baghdady
    Ishita Chakrabarty
    Jack Burgess
    Jessica "Lulu" Lipman
    Joe Anderson
    Jonathan Lahdo
    Jonathan Stahl
    Joseph Squillaro
    Justin Yang
    Kaitlyn Rentala
    Kanishka Bhukya
    Katie Kaufman
    Kelly Liang
    Keshav Sharma
    Ketaki Gujar
    Lauren Pak
    Lavi Ben Dor
    Libby Rozbruch
    Lindsey Li
    Luis Bravo
    Lyndsey Reeve
    Madeline Decker
    Maja Cvjetanovic
    Maliha Farrooz
    Marco DiLeonardo
    Margaret Lu
    Matthew Caulfield
    Michael Keshmiri
    Mina Nur Basmaci
    Muskan Mumtaz
    Natalie Peelish
    Natasha Darlington
    Natasha Kang
    Nayeon Kim
    Nicholas Parsons
    Nicholas Williams
    Nicole Greenstein
    Nihal Sahu
    Omar Khoury
    Owen Voutsinas Klose
    Owen Voutsinas-Klose
    Pheby Liu
    Rachel Bina
    Rachel Gu
    Rachel Pomerantz
    Rebecca Heilweil
    Regina Salmons
    Sajan Srivastava
    Sandeep Suresh
    Sanjay Dureseti
    Sarah Simon
    Saranya Das Sharma
    Saranya Sharma
    Sasha Bryski
    Saxon Bryant
    Sean Foley
    Sebastian Bates
    Serena Camici
    Shahana Banerjee
    Shannon Alvino
    Shiven Sharma
    Siddarth Sethi
    Sneha Parthasarathy
    Sneha Sharma
    Sophie Lovering
    Steven Jacobson
    Suaida Firoze
    Suprateek Neogi
    Takane Shoji
    Tanner Bowen
    Taryn MacKinney
    Thomas Cribbins
    Todd Costa
    Tyler Larkworthy
    Vatsal Patel
    Vikram Balasubramanian
    Vishwajeet Deshmukh
    Wajeeha Ahmad
    Yeonhwa Lee

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

Picture
Picture
​