Archbishop Coakley’s letter urges Trump to pause Haiti deportations

Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City wrote a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to pause enforced departures of Haitians living in the U.S.

Coakley, who serves as the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), wrote the letter due to his “deep pastoral concern in relation to the growing number of Haitians being forcibly repatriated to Haiti from the United States.”

The archbishop detailed the violence in Haiti, including a fatal attack that took place in the nationʼs capital of Port-au-Prince in August.

“Recently, at least 47 people were brutally murdered, more than 20 injured, and over 50 kidnapped in an unconscionable act of violence perpetrated by gang members in Port-au-Prince,” Coakley said.

“Perhaps worst of all, the victims were displaced families—young children among them—taking shelter at a church,” Coakley said.

Due to the attacks, and following the end of temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians living in the United States, Coakley urged Trump to exercise his authority under the Constitution to delay deportations for Haitians living and working in the United States.

“I very much wish this recent and tragic…