The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has officially confirmed the arrest of Haitian businessman and political figure Pierre Reginald Boulos. According to an announcement made on July 17, Boulos—who holds U.S. lawful permanent residency—was taken into custody for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act by contributing to the ongoing destabilization of Haiti.
This development follows mounting allegations linking Boulos to organized violence and political manipulation in Haiti. ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations led the arrest in coordination with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
In an official release accompanied by Boulos’ mugshot, ICE stated that the U.S. Department of State had determined Boulos’ presence in the United States to have “serious adverse foreign policy consequences.” Authorities claim Boulos played a major role in fueling unrest in Haiti, allegedly collaborating with the leadership of Viv Ansanm—a Haitian group recently designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Furthermore, ICE officials accuse Boulos of committing immigration fraud by concealing his political involvement in Haiti during his application for U.S. residency. Specifically, he failed to disclose his role in founding the Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haïti (MTVAyiti), a political party with significant influence in Haitian affairs.
The arrest also comes after a referral from Haiti’s Unit for the Fight Against Corruption, which accused Boulos of loan misappropriation—providing additional grounds for his potential deportation.
Boulos, who is also a physician and former presidential candidate, is currently detained at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami. His immigration proceedings are scheduled to begin on July 31.
In a strongly worded statement, ICE reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to barring individuals who exploit their legal status while supporting violent or destabilizing groups abroad.
“The United States will not tolerate individuals facilitating the actions of violent organizations or supporting criminal terrorist organizations while enjoying the benefits of legal status in our country,” ICE stated.
As Haiti grapples with extreme gang violence, political upheaval, and a humanitarian crisis, the arrest of such a high-profile figure sends a strong message about U.S. immigration policy and its stance on foreign political interference and domestic security.
