Bodies recovered after being thrown into river; community leader warns deportations are “condemning people to death” amid Haiti’s gang crisis
In a horrific discovery near the southern Haiti-Dominican Republic border in the Elías Piña area, the decapitated bodies of four Haitian women were recovered from a river after being thrown into the water in Haiti. Authorities confirmed the women were killed in Haiti, and their bodies were carried across the border by the current.
The victims, Haitian nationals aged 27 to 31, had arrived in Puerto Rico by boat in December 2024 and lived in San Juan neighborhoods including Barrio Obrero and Puerto Nuevo. They were deported several months ago — one approximately two months prior, the others around three months and 15 days before their deaths — following immigration enforcement actions.
Leonard Prophil, a Haitian community leader and Creole interpreter in Puerto Rico who knew some of the women and was contacted by their families, confirmed they had been missing for about two weeks before the bodies were found. He directly linked the killings to gang activity in Haiti, where deported individuals — especially women — are frequently kidnapped and targeted for ransom demands from relatives presumed to have resources abroad (often in the U.S. or Puerto Rico).
“Deporting these people means condemning them to death,” Prophil stated, calling for alternatives to deportation given Haiti’s severe gang violence and humanitarian crisis.
Dominican authorities arrested a Haitian man named Chin Laduse in connection with the case. Prophil has previously reported that at least 18 Haitian deportees from the U.S. have been murdered upon return, with nine linked to deportations from Puerto Rico.
The victims’ families have withheld names and photographs out of fear of further gang retaliation. Many Haitians undertake perilous sea journeys (“yolas”) to reach Puerto Rico, only to face detention, raids, and removal — heightening dangers upon return to an unstable homeland.
This tragedy highlights the deadly risks deportees face in Haiti, where gangs control large areas, extortion is rampant, and state protection is limited. Advocacy groups continue to urge the U.S. and Puerto Rico to reconsider deportation policies amid the ongoing crisis.
L’Union Suite extends deepest condolences to the families and stands in solidarity with the Haitian community. We will continue to follow this case and related deportation issues.
If you or someone you know is affected by deportation concerns, contact trusted organizations such as the Haitian Bridge Alliance or local immigrant rights groups.
![Republican senators are warning that President Trump has fumbled immigration, an issue that helped GOP candidates in 2024 and is now becoming a political liability as the party defends its Senate majority.
Several GOP senators told The Hill that the administration’s mass-deportation campaign has been too aggressive, overshadowing what they describe as a major border-security win: illegal crossings down more than 90 percent since former President Biden left office. They say the enforcement is costing Republicans support among suburban and Hispanic voters weeks before the midterms.
“Once you start deporting people who have otherwise been here without incident for 15, 20 years, that’s a gray zone that I think where you find a lot of division of opinion,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “I always thought that this idea of mass deportations sent the wrong message.”
Cornyn pointed to a campaign ad from Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who told the president that some enforcement “has gone too far” and that Hispanic voters who helped elect him in 2024 “feel betrayed.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is running for reelection, said most Americans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement focused on people who have committed crimes beyond unlawful presence.
“Most Americans are saying we are a nation of laws, but with as many people here illegally as we’ve got, let’s make darn sure that our focus is on getting those individuals that have violated our laws with regard to other things other than being here illegally,” Rounds said. He urged the administration to ease off people who “are here and that have a court determination that [says] they can be here,” and to “refocus on those individuals that are actually causing harm within society today.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was blunter. “I would rather have 100 illegally present people go free than have that innocent person caught,” he said. Of sweeps that have swept up citizens and green-card holders.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://www.lunionsuite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/840991051_18641085889023307_7642861791848397517_n-512x640.jpg)
![Republican senators are warning that President Trump has fumbled immigration, an issue that helped GOP candidates in 2024 and is now becoming a political liability as the party defends its Senate majority.
Several GOP senators told The Hill that the administration’s mass-deportation campaign has been too aggressive, overshadowing what they describe as a major border-security win: illegal crossings down more than 90 percent since former President Biden left office. They say the enforcement is costing Republicans support among suburban and Hispanic voters weeks before the midterms.
“Once you start deporting people who have otherwise been here without incident for 15, 20 years, that’s a gray zone that I think where you find a lot of division of opinion,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “I always thought that this idea of mass deportations sent the wrong message.”
Cornyn pointed to a campaign ad from Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who told the president that some enforcement “has gone too far” and that Hispanic voters who helped elect him in 2024 “feel betrayed.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is running for reelection, said most Americans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement focused on people who have committed crimes beyond unlawful presence.
“Most Americans are saying we are a nation of laws, but with as many people here illegally as we’ve got, let’s make darn sure that our focus is on getting those individuals that have violated our laws with regard to other things other than being here illegally,” Rounds said. He urged the administration to ease off people who “are here and that have a court determination that [says] they can be here,” and to “refocus on those individuals that are actually causing harm within society today.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was blunter. “I would rather have 100 illegally present people go free than have that innocent person caught,” he said. Of sweeps that have swept up citizens and green-card holders.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/840991051_18641085889023307_7642861791848397517_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=Ib_peifAtiUQ7kNvwGJHbZW&_nc_oc=Adr-rpbwHnP3VgZYy97VHCho6fk_F4a1Do0G8tZ-0N8s_DJ4WUuSikaqZPFNlFQWMhU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=k9sD98EWQtpbeynN9TWOUA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKZuWqDK0sn49LfEyXVfqSc8pphdv0rAXR8lvMBynZoWzbp-wS3JLYG5gwdDJVaWsuvzlDzZT5p&oh=00_AQMLZ4F5kJzj6TjSSxnlnPgRAp6raZ695QDuFpOh0er1yA&oe=6ACF2418)
![Republican senators are warning that President Trump has fumbled immigration, an issue that helped GOP candidates in 2024 and is now becoming a political liability as the party defends its Senate majority.
Several GOP senators told The Hill that the administration’s mass-deportation campaign has been too aggressive, overshadowing what they describe as a major border-security win: illegal crossings down more than 90 percent since former President Biden left office. They say the enforcement is costing Republicans support among suburban and Hispanic voters weeks before the midterms.
“Once you start deporting people who have otherwise been here without incident for 15, 20 years, that’s a gray zone that I think where you find a lot of division of opinion,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “I always thought that this idea of mass deportations sent the wrong message.”
Cornyn pointed to a campaign ad from Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who told the president that some enforcement “has gone too far” and that Hispanic voters who helped elect him in 2024 “feel betrayed.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is running for reelection, said most Americans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement focused on people who have committed crimes beyond unlawful presence.
“Most Americans are saying we are a nation of laws, but with as many people here illegally as we’ve got, let’s make darn sure that our focus is on getting those individuals that have violated our laws with regard to other things other than being here illegally,” Rounds said. He urged the administration to ease off people who “are here and that have a court determination that [says] they can be here,” and to “refocus on those individuals that are actually causing harm within society today.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was blunter. “I would rather have 100 illegally present people go free than have that innocent person caught,” he said. Of sweeps that have swept up citizens and green-card holders.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/839766226_18641085904023307_2948675116117924112_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=W3O1OXhJoLUQ7kNvwEVqOkk&_nc_oc=AdpjS_FKcW6_Pzim3oSQZYHOiVKkfwbMNDrWl8LkpCoIR8Di6d1_1OSop-33HuIyAYk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=k9sD98EWQtpbeynN9TWOUA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQLqJYcxoXPG3Wno3QskVnnqV_5XqUY0fUTYyRuG1Rs0n4eL5XjLpDDYUdfDdlLL0-BKpuGIvPwp&oh=00_AQMVXahogWyLk6fSXSIOjR59b2kBzsNN748qkhUV1EBnYg&oe=6ACEFFD8)
![Republican senators are warning that President Trump has fumbled immigration, an issue that helped GOP candidates in 2024 and is now becoming a political liability as the party defends its Senate majority.
Several GOP senators told The Hill that the administration’s mass-deportation campaign has been too aggressive, overshadowing what they describe as a major border-security win: illegal crossings down more than 90 percent since former President Biden left office. They say the enforcement is costing Republicans support among suburban and Hispanic voters weeks before the midterms.
“Once you start deporting people who have otherwise been here without incident for 15, 20 years, that’s a gray zone that I think where you find a lot of division of opinion,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “I always thought that this idea of mass deportations sent the wrong message.”
Cornyn pointed to a campaign ad from Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), who told the president that some enforcement “has gone too far” and that Hispanic voters who helped elect him in 2024 “feel betrayed.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who is running for reelection, said most Americans want Immigration and Customs Enforcement focused on people who have committed crimes beyond unlawful presence.
“Most Americans are saying we are a nation of laws, but with as many people here illegally as we’ve got, let’s make darn sure that our focus is on getting those individuals that have violated our laws with regard to other things other than being here illegally,” Rounds said. He urged the administration to ease off people who “are here and that have a court determination that [says] they can be here,” and to “refocus on those individuals that are actually causing harm within society today.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was blunter. “I would rather have 100 illegally present people go free than have that innocent person caught,” he said. Of sweeps that have swept up citizens and green-card holders.
#lunionsuite #haitianamerican](https://scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/842191576_18641085880023307_6000724888231376659_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=xtZvFe7RaVYQ7kNvwG4OWwN&_nc_oc=AdovbRSSo7-bJB-h4BjOGp3hCPdXOFQnOzD9Azrpx2vu_gAxIR8ITx7lo-GmhavkZsA&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-yyz1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=k9sD98EWQtpbeynN9TWOUA&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQKaGmc2Dh-_bhwfMZAb4t8oRibEXLCxquEAs01dNveDAYARlev6jL-sQpXlS6Y1VUfCdvU1IiSK&oh=00_AQPhzycXjYQmt9gTZ-AMDqL9bwfQmUJs-RwhqpuYF1RgdA&oe=6ACF0B36)
[…] Gruesome Discovery: Four Haitian Women Deported by the U.S. Found Decapitated. The victims’ families have withheld names and photographs out of fear of further gang retaliation. Many Haitians undertake perilous sea journeys (“yolas”) to reach Puerto Rico, only to face detention, raids, and removal — heightening dangers upon return to an unstable homeland. https://www.lunionsuite.com/graphic-content-warning-four-haitian-women-deported-from-puerto-rico-fou… […]