Miami, FL — Pierre Réginald Boulos, a prominent Haitian businessman and former presidential candidate, will remain in U.S. immigration custody after a judge ruled he could not be released pending further hearings.
Boulos, once seen as a serious contender for Haiti’s presidency, is accused by U.S. authorities of supporting armed gangs that have fueled chaos in Haiti. ICE claims his alleged ties to violent organizations have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.”
He was arrested on July 17 in Palm Beach County and is now being held at the Krome Detention Center in Miami. When he appeared in court Thursday, dressed in orange, his children and family members were present both in person and online.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stated:
“The United States will not allow individuals to enjoy the benefits of legal status in our country while they are facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting criminal terrorist organizations abroad.”
Beyond gang ties, officials also accuse Boulos of failing to disclose his involvement in founding MTVAyiti, a Haitian political party, and of misusing loans — charges that ICE says amount to immigration fraud.
The next hearing is scheduled for August 26 at the Krome North Service Processing Center, where procedural matters will be addressed. His lawyers have promised an appeal.
Why It Matters
Boulos’ detention highlights Washington’s growing concern over Haiti’s instability, with U.S. agencies openly linking Haitian political elites to violent groups destabilizing the country.
Many in Haiti once saw Boulos as a reformist, but these explosive allegations could end his political ambitions and reshape Haitian politics.
