Letter Text (PDF)

Washington (July 24, 2025) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) today led their colleagues in writing to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, requesting clarification on the contradictory U.S. foreign and immigration policies toward Haiti. The senators also demand answers on the involvement of a U.S. private military contractor (PMC)—led by Blackwater Worldwide founder Erik Prince— conducting armed operations in Haiti.

In the letter, the lawmakers write, “According to recent reports, a U.S. private military contractor (PMC) is conducting armed operations in Haiti under a formal contract with the country’s transitional government. These reports raise urgent questions about compliance with U.S. arms export laws, the risk of U.S. complicity in gross violations of human rights, and fundamental contradictions in current U.S. foreign and immigration policy toward Haiti. In light of these concerns, and in view of the Trump administration’s recent decision to both terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti and include Haiti in its newly announced travel ban, we request that you immediately clarify how these decisions are being coordinated and justified across the Executive Branch.”

The lawmakers continued, “Weaponized drone operations, arms shipments, and deployments of U.S. mercenaries unquestionably constitute activities requiring export licenses. If those licenses were granted, their approval would appear inconsistent with NSPM-10’s human rights criteria. If no licenses were granted, then these activities may be proceeding in violation of U.S. law. At a time when U.S. foreign policy towards Haiti is increasingly inconsistent, by undermining multilateral efforts, ignoring human rights concerns, and pursuing deportations despite escalating violence, the unchecked deployment of a U.S. private military contractor with a troubling history of human rights abuses represents an urgent threat to U.S. legal obligations, credibility, and responsibilities to protect vulnerable populations.”

The lawmakers request the following information by August 15, 2025:

1. Has any U.S. private military contractor applied for or received export licenses for defense articles or military services provided in Haiti? If so, please identify them and provide copies of the export licenses.
2. Have any such licenses been reviewed under NSPM-10, Section 3(d) regarding the risks to international peace and human rights? If so, please provide the results of any such review. If not, why not?
3. Has any interagency review assessed whether such U.S. private military contractor activity could undermine the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission? If so, please provide the results of any such review. If not, why not? Has the Department of State assessed whether these activities are consistent with, duplicative of, or in conflict with the UN MSS mission? If so, please provide the results of any such assessment. If not, why not?
4. Have the Haitian National Police units that are reportedly receiving U.S. security assistance been vetted under the Leahy Law? If so, please provide the results of that vetting. If not, why not?
5. What accounts for the contradiction between State’s support for armed stabilization operations in Haiti and DHS’s determination that TPS protections should end?
6. How does the Administration reconcile the security justification for Haiti’s inclusion in the travel ban with its simultaneous assessment that Haiti’s TPS status should be terminated because it is safe for Haitians to return home?

The letter was co-signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

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