Leaving the Homeland: Journey of a Former Mayoral Candidate
On hearing the news of the new president’s election, Jean-Robert felt he had to leave his beloved Haiti for fear of reprisal since he had been a vocal leader of the opposition.
It was the year 2017 and on February 7th Jovenel Moise was sworn into office as Haitian president after winning a highly contested election. To some Haitians he conveyed a sense of hope, but for others considerable skepticism and concern about his reputation as a strong man. Jean-Robert was among the skeptics and soon after he flew to Chile leaving behind his beloved birth city of Mirebalais. Four years later, Jean-Robert crossed the US-Mexico border entering Texas. What was the reasoning behind his decision to leave Haiti? How did his journey from Mirebalais to Boston compare with that of other migrants?
In Mirebalais, a city located in the Central Plateau of Haiti, Jean-Robert completed his primary and secondary education. Afterwards, while working as a reporter and political analyst for a radio station, he enrolled in agronomy school. While attending to his studies he was also very interested and involved in politics at the local and national levels. In time he became a public figure whose political views were deeply held by some while loathed by others. Those opposing him were primarily sympathetic to the ruling PHTK party.
Relying on his popularity and credentials as a figure of the opposition, Jean-Robert launched a campaign for mayor of Mirebalais in 2016. Though he led a strong campaign, to his disappointment he lost to the PHTK-sponsored candidate.
In the aftermath of this election Jean-Robert took time to assess his life path and career opportunities. He began to doubt his political future and even his potential to make a decent living with a degree in agronomy. Since he did not want to spend years and perhaps a lifetime struggling to just minimally provide for his family, he considered moving to another country. Chile was the most attractive destination for Haitians at the time since there was no visa requirement and plenty of job openings. So, he joined the growing crowd of young professionals who decided to leave behind their beloved Haiti and flew off toward the country of Michelle Bachelet.
Jean-Robert spent almost four years in Chile. He enrolled in law school during the first two years, held a decent job, and secured residency status. Everything was falling into place and he was about to call for his wife and children to join him when things suddenly changed. First, in 2018, Sebastiàn Piňera replaced Michelle Bachelet as Chile's president promoting a plan less friendly to Haitian immigrants. Second, in 2019 a political crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic led to an economic downturn with violent street protests. As a result, the legalization process became more restrictive for Haitians and the work opportunities less available.
As Chile was no longer a land of opportunity many Haitians decided to leave making the perilous journey toward the US-Mexico border.
Unlike most migrants who spent months crossing rivers, walking many miles through jungles and risked being beaten, robbed and even raped, Jean-Robert had means and simply flew to Mexico. He spent one month in Tijuana, where he looked for opportunities to reach the U.S. border. From Tijuana, he flew to Monterrey and then took a very long bus ride to Akoya. From there, he paid someone to help him cross the Gulf of Mexico.
Optimistic, self-confident and a quick learner Jean-Robert commits to learning English while awaiting word from the INS on his immigration status
On February 28, 2021, Jean-Robert reached Texas surrendering to immigration officers who arrested him and put him in immigration detention. He was released after one and a half months and made his way to Boston where he now lives. Since he has made progress on legalizing his residency status, he is hopeful about securing a good job, continuing his education, and filing petitions to reunite with his wife and children. Meanwhile he has been studying English with IFSI and confident that the American dream is within reach.
Lessons and Tips:
Conditions in a migrants’ destination country can deteriorate rapidly due to elections, change in political leadership and pressures from other migrant groups as was the case in Chile with the increasing arrival of Venezuelan refugees.
To help inform one’s decision to leave home for another country, one should research not only opportunities but the risks and likelihood that changing conditions might have a negative impact on people from your home country or demographic.
Having money and certain career backgrounds can provide many advantages. For instance it can diminish common risks faced by those traveling by foot through south and central America. It can also positively impact your chances of crossing the US border and receiving favorable treatment by the US government.
A sense of hope and optimism can significantly help one develop a positive outlook and sustain it through uncertain times. This can derive from different sources. For some in previous Navigator stories spiritual convictions and God has been a guiding force. In this case Roger’s self-confidence seems to derive from educational and professional accomplishments.
By The IFSI Immigrant Navigator Team: Dr. Mario Malivert, Makendi H. Alce, Larry Childs, Angie Gabeau, Hidalgo Delbeau, Nick Carstensen and Guerlince Semerzier
Cartoon illustrations: Teddy K. Mombrun