Following our initial report on the arrest of Haitian energy executive Dimitri Vorbe, new details from the Miami Herald shed light on the circumstances surrounding his case and the wider U.S. actions against prominent Haitian businessmen.
Vorbe, vice president of Société Générale d’Énergie S.A. (SOGENER), was detained Tuesday outside his Miami home by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He is currently being held at the Krome North Service Processing Center, according to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records.
The Herald reports that Vorbe, who has lived in the U.S. since January 2020, holds Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and is involved in an ongoing immigration case. His hearing before an immigration judge has reportedly been rescheduled several times without explanation.
DHS documents reviewed by the Herald state the U.S. government considers Vorbe’s presence in the country a potential cause of “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Authorities cite alleged ties to violence and gang support contributing to Haiti’s ongoing instability, though no evidence has been made public. ICE has declined to answer questions regarding the specific grounds for his detention.
This development fits into a broader pattern of U.S. immigration actions targeting members of Haiti’s private sector. Just two months ago, businessman Pierre Réginald Boulos was detained in Palm Beach County over immigration violations and similar allegations of gang ties. In recent months, other Haitian business figures have faced visa cancellations, been denied boarding on U.S.-bound flights, or stopped at Miami International Airport (MIA) for questioning related to their business dealings and political influence.
The Vorbe family has long been a powerful force in Haiti’s economy. Through SOGENER, they supplied much of the country’s electricity until the Haitian government seized the company’s assets. The family also secured major infrastructure contracts during the presidency of René Préval.
Vorbe’s relationship with Haitian authorities became increasingly strained under President Jovenel Moïse, who accused SOGENER of exploiting contracts and launched a 2019 effort to pursue arrests tied to a 2005 electricity deal.
This is not Vorbe’s first run-in with U.S. immigration authorities. In August 2020, he was briefly detained by ICE for allegedly overstaying his visa. At the time, his attorney produced documentation of a filed visa extension, leading to his release. Since then, U.S. officials have retained his Haitian passport as his immigration case continues.
Vorbe’s detention adds another layer to the mounting scrutiny Haitian elites now face in the United States, underscoring Washington’s increasing pressure on figures accused—publicly or behind closed doors—of fueling Haiti’s political and security crises.
