Tag - Haitian American

One more night in Kingston. One more chance to see the Grenadiers live. ⁠ ⁠ Haiti returns to Sabina Park tonight to face Costa Rica in its second match of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League.⁠ ⁠ The Grenadiers enter the match with momentum after a dramatic 3–2 comeback victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday. Haiti trailed 2–1 before Garven-Michée Metusala tied the match in stoppage time and Wilson Isidor scored the winner in the 98th minute.⁠ ⁠ Costa Rica comes into tonight’s match looking for its first points after a stunning 4–3 loss to Curaçao. Costa Rica led 3–0 at halftime before Curaçao scored four unanswered goals in the second half to complete the comeback. ⁠ ⁠ That makes tonight another important match in Group A. Haiti currently has three points, while Costa Rica has zero, and only the top two teams in the group advance to the Nations League quarterfinals. Concacaf⁠ ⁠ 🇭🇹 Haiti vs. Costa Rica 🇨🇷⁠ 📅 Tonight — Sunday, September 27⁠ ⏰ 7:00 PM — Haiti & South Florida⁠ 📍 Sabina Park — Kingston, Jamaica⁠ ⁠ For Haitians in Jamaica, this is another opportunity to fill the stands, bring the flags and show up for the Grenadiers. 🇭🇹⁠ ⁠ Who’s watching Haiti tonight?⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

What you post online could soon become part of how Florida authorities determine criminal gang membership.⁠ ⁠ Starting October 1, a new Florida law will expand the criteria authorities can use when identifying someone as a criminal gang member during criminal investigations, prosecutions and sentencing. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 429 into law in June. ⁠ ⁠ Under the law, an admission of criminal gang membership made in person, on social media or another online platform can count as one of the criteria used to determine gang membership. Authorities may also consider online communications that indicate gang affiliation or activity. ⁠ ⁠ The law also creates a definition for “gang-related language.” That includes statements that signal gang affiliation, support gang activity or use recognized gang codes, symbols or terminology. However, the law specifically refers to using such language online in furtherance of criminal gang-related activity — an important detail that should not be left out. ⁠ ⁠ And a single social media post does not automatically make someone a criminal gang member. Florida law generally requires a person to meet two or more qualifying criteria. A single act can satisfy more than one criterion if it meets the requirements of multiple categories. ⁠ ⁠ Other changes include allowing a spouse who lives with someone to identify that person as a gang member and reducing the number of documented observations with known gang members needed as one criterion from four to two. ⁠ ⁠ The new law takes effect statewide October 1, 2026. Florida Senate⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé took Haiti’s security crisis, elections and future directly to the world stage Friday, telling leaders at the United Nations General Assembly that the country is at a “watershed moment.” Speaking in New York, Fils-Aimé said Haiti continues to face widespread armed violence, displacement and attacks on communities. He called for continued international support for security efforts, while making clear that Haiti must ultimately rebuild its own institutions and take responsibility for its future. “Haiti will resist. Haiti is standing tall.” Fils-Aimé said Haiti is not asking the international community to determine its future, but to stand beside the country as Haitians work to regain control of their security and institutions. He thanked international partners supporting the Gang Suppression Force and called for its full deployment. The prime minister also addressed Haiti’s long-delayed elections. He said his government intends to bring the political transition to an end through elections and the ballot box, linking the restoration of security to giving Haitians the opportunity to choose their leaders again. Fils-Aimé closed his address by connecting Haiti’s current struggle with the country’s history. Referring to Toussaint Louverture and Haiti’s fight for freedom, he said this generation now has another responsibility: turning that freedom into lasting peace. His message to the international community was clear: Haiti needs support, but its future must ultimately be built by Haitians. 🎥: @calvinwplg #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

The Grenadiers are off to a winning start. 🇭🇹⚽️ Haiti currently sits second in Group A of the Concacaf Nations League after opening its campaign with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Trinidad and Tobago Thursday night at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. Haiti opened the scoring through Fabrice Picault in the 23rd minute, but Trinidad and Tobago answered eight minutes later through Wayne Frederick. Levi García then gave Trinidad and Tobago a 2–1 lead in the second half. The Grenadiers refused to let the match go. Garven-Michée Metusala tied the game in stoppage time before Wilson Isidor scored the winner in the 98th minute, completing a late comeback and giving new head coach David Badia a victory in his first competitive match in charge. After the first round of Group A matches, Curaçao, Haiti and the Dominican Republic all have three points. Curaçao currently holds first place, Haiti is second and the Dominican Republic is third. Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago and Nicaragua remain on zero points. Haiti’s next test comes Sunday, September 27, against Costa Rica at Sabina Park. That match could be important in the race for the top two positions, because only the top two teams from Group A advance to the Nations League quarterfinals, where they will join Mexico, the United States, Canada and Panama. The Grenadiers have three points on the board. Now it’s on to Costa Rica. 🇭🇹🔥 #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

As Haiti prepares for elections, the head of the Organization of American States is raising concerns about the possibility of people with connections to criminal groups entering the race. OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin said anyone with ties to criminal organizations should not be allowed to participate in Haiti’s upcoming elections, whether they are seeking the presidency, a seat in Parliament or a local position. But there is an important distinction: Ramdin was expressing the OAS position, not announcing a new Haitian election rule. He acknowledged that deciding whether a candidate is legally eligible to run is ultimately the responsibility of Haitian authorities. Ramdin has also raised concerns about what he described as links between some political figures and armed groups in Haiti. He said the issue could affect confidence in the electoral process, but he did not publicly identify specific candidates in the remarks I reviewed. The concern comes as Haiti works toward its first national elections in about a decade. The Provisional Electoral Council has scheduled the first round for December 13, 2026, although preparations are taking place under extremely difficult security conditions. Earlier this month, the OAS said armed groups control an estimated 80% to 90% of Port-au-Prince, while approximately 1.47 million people have been displaced. The OAS has been pushing for faster voter registration, stronger security and additional international support ahead of the elections. On September 25, all 32 active OAS member states also called for the full deployment and continued support of the Gang Suppression Force, saying improved security is necessary for Haiti to move toward credible elections. For now, the question of who qualifies to appear on Haiti’s ballot remains in the hands of Haiti’s electoral authorities and the procedures established under Haitian law. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Today, we’re celebrating the woman behind L’Union Suite! Please join us in wishing our Founder and CEO, @mrswanda a very happy birthday! For more than a decade, Wanda has used L’Union Suite to create a space where Haiti, our culture, our people and the Haitian diaspora can be seen, celebrated and connected. What started as a personal project in 2011 has grown into a platform that continues to tell our stories and represent our community around the world. Happy Birthday, Ms. Wanda! We hope your day is filled with love, happiness and many more blessings.🩵🎉🎈🎂 Drop a Happy Birthday for her in the comments! #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Haitian pastor Molis Augustave has been deported to Haiti, weeks after a traffic stop in York County, Pennsylvania, led to his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.⁠ ⁠ Augustave was stopped by West Manchester Township police on September 4 for a broken headlight. Police discovered that he had a final removal order and contacted ICE, which took him into custody. He had entered the United States through a port of entry in 2016 and was later ordered removed after his asylum case was denied. Temporary Protected Status had prevented his removal for years, but that protection for Haitians ended in July.⁠ ⁠ His deportation was initially scheduled for September 17, but advocates said he was taken off the plane at the last minute. Days later, his green card application was denied, and on Thursday, September 24, he was deported to Haiti. ⁠ ⁠ Augustave leaves behind his U.S.-citizen wife, Omara Nunez, their 2-year-old son and his 9-year-old stepdaughter in Pennsylvania. His family, faith leaders and immigration advocates had pushed for him to remain in the country while his immigration case continued. ⁠ ⁠ His case has drawn attention to how quickly immigration enforcement can move after a person loses protection from deportation.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

@NaomiOsaka just reminded everyone why she’s one of fashion’s most compelling athletes. The tennis star posted a series of striking portraits wearing Roberto Cavalli Fall Winter 2026/27 Look 44, a towering, all-black high-neck gown covered in cascading fringe that moves like feathers.⁠ ⁠ The look is peak “Nero Carnale,” the name Fausto Puglisi gave the collection he sent down the Milan runway in February. After seasons of color and animal print, Puglisi went almost entirely black: textured, sensual, and unapologetically dramatic. Leather, crocodile jacquard, lace, mohair, and faux astrakhan created depth. Color arrived only as sharp flashes of periwinkle, cyclamen, and electric pink.⁠ ⁠ Look 44 is one of the collection’s most theatrical pieces. A fitted high-neck bodice in sheer black lace and ruffles meets a voluminous skirt of layered fringe that trails behind the wearer. The silhouette is both structured and fluid, control meeting instinct, exactly what Puglisi said he wanted. Gold drop earrings and strappy sandals complete the look in the palazzo-style photos Osaka shared.⁠ ⁠ The images feel cinematic: Osaka standing in grand rooms with frescoes, gilded mirrors, and parquet floors, the gown pooling and sweeping as she turns. It’s the kind of moment that bridges sport and couture without trying too hard. Osaka has spent the last two years turning walk-ons and red carpets into fashion events. This one lands as a statement rather than a costume.⁠ ⁠ Puglisi has described the season as “a sensual black, infused with hyper-femininity and a quiet, underlying optimism.” Look 44 delivers that idea in one garment. It is dark, but it is not grim. It is opulent without being loud. It is Cavalli through a new, more concentrated lens.⁠ ⁠ 📸 @seebasschin @officialsheiks @aminatacreative⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian ⁠

Lets Go Haiti!!!! In the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, Wilson Isidor rose inside the six-yard box and headed home the winner as Haiti beat Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 on Thursday night in their 2026–27 CONCACAF Nations League A opener. The Grenadiers had trailed 2-1 after 59 minutes. They leveled through defender Garven-Michee Metusala in the first minute of added time, then found the last blow when it mattered most.⁠ ⁠ It was Haiti’s first competitive match since the 2026 World Cup. Haiti started with purpose. In the 23rd minute, Isidor supplied Fafà Picault, who headed past the Trinidad and Tobago keeper from close range for 1-0. The lead lasted eight minutes. Wayne Frederick finished a set-piece sequence in the 31st minute, assisted by Rio Cardines, and the teams went to the locker room locked at 1-1.⁠ ⁠ The second half belonged first to Levi García. In the 59th minute the Trinidad and Tobago attacker struck from outside the box and put the Soca Warriors in front, 2-1. Haiti kept the ball they finished with about 69 percent possession, 21 shots to 11, and eight shots on target but the finish would not come. Isidor hit the crossbar around the 79th minute. Substitutes Frantzdy Pierrot, Ruben Providence, and Yassin Fortuné entered as Haiti chased the game.⁠ ⁠ Metusala scored in the 91st minute to make it 2-2. Then, deep in the 98th minute, Isidor attacked a ball in the box and headed it into the low left corner. Final: Haiti 3, Trinidad and Tobago 2. ⁠ ⁠ Group A also includes Costa Rica, Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. The top two reach the Nations League quarterfinals. After Matchday 1, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti all sit on three points. Trinidad and Tobago sit on zero.⁠ ⁠ Isidor now has another defining Haiti moment after scoring at the World Cup against Morocco. Picault delivered the first goal. Metusala, a center back, delivered the equalizer that made the winner possible. For a team still building after a historic World Cup summer and still playing its “home” games on the road three points like this are the statement the campaign needed.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @concacafnationsleague⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Sirena Prosper has spent almost her entire life in South Florida. Family members say she arrived from the Bahamas as a baby, six or seven months old, built a salon business in Pompano Beach, and raised seven children here, six of them U.S. citizens. Last week, ICE agents arrested her near that business, in front of her children. She is now locked in a women’s detention center in Louisiana.⁠ ⁠ On Tuesday night, faith leaders and relatives held a candlelight vigil they called “Stand Up for Sirena.” Organizers with Faith in Florida and Faith in Action said the case is not only about status. “It is about a mother and her children, a business owner and her community, and a family facing the possibility of being separated from one another,” they wrote in a statement seeking her release. Three of her children are still minors.⁠ ⁠ From detention, Prosper told WSVN she is grateful people showed up. “I’m happy that I have supporters, family, friends that are fighting for me,” she said. “My hope is that I can return home to my kids, my family.” Cousin Alexandra Francois said the children keep asking when their mother is coming back. “Answers can’t be answered due to the fact that we don’t know the circumstances.”⁠ ⁠ ICE’s account is harsher. A spokesman told WLRN that Prosper is “a criminal illegal alien from Haiti” arrested in a targeted operation, with convictions that include burglary of a residence, resisting an officer, larceny, and burglary. The agency said she entered legally, later adjusted status, and was ordered removed by an immigration judge on Jan. 9, 2002. ICE said she will stay in custody until she is deported.⁠ ⁠ Prosper disputes that portrait. “No, I’m not a criminal. I have one charge, and that was 25 years ago, and I did my duty. I did my time,” she told 7News. Relatives and vigil organizers say U.S. immigration files list Haiti as her birthplace even though the family says she came from the Bahamas — leaving it unclear, they argue, which country she would even be sent to.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @WSVN⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Estephanie Charles has arrived on one of the world’s most watched international beauty stages as Miss Grand Haiti 2026, carrying both the Haitian flag and a message she says is larger than the crown.⁠ ⁠ Charles, known as @Haitiangoddess31, is Haiti’s official representative at the 14th Miss Grand International pageant, now underway in Thailand. The grand final is scheduled for October 10 at MGI Hall in Bangkok, where reigning titleholder Emma Tiglao of the Philippines is expected to crown her successor.⁠ ⁠ Charles is 26 and in 2024 she represented Haiti at Miss Earth, giving her prior experience with interviews, national presentation, and the pressure of competing far from home.⁠ On her official Miss Grand International profile, she presents herself as a creator first: a designer who draws, sews, styles, and turns ideas into finished fashion. She describes herself as adaptable, multilingual, and comfortable working across cultures.⁠ ⁠ Miss Grand International has built its brand around a campaign titled “Stop the War and Violence.” Charles has not treated that slogan as decoration. She has made it personal. Coming from Haiti and having lived among different cultures, she writes that she has seen how violence tears through families, especially women and children. For her, the campaign is a call for humanity: peace, empathy, respect, unity, dialogue, compassion, and a future that does not repeat the same damage.⁠ ⁠ That framing is the most important thing the public should know about this run. Charles is not asking audiences only to admire a look. She is asking them to hear Haiti through a language the pageant itself claims to value. In a year when Haitian communities at home and abroad continue to live with insecurity, displacement, and political fracture, a delegate who chooses peace and unity as her public thesis is making a deliberate statement.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 @misshaitiacademy⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

It’s game day for the Grenadiers! 🇭🇹⚽️ Haiti returns to international action tonight, facing Trinidad and Tobago in its opening match of the 2026–27 Concacaf Nations League at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica. The match also marks David Badia’s first competitive game as head coach of the Haitian national team. Haiti enters a League A group that also includes Costa Rica, Curaçao, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The top two teams in the group will advance to the Nations League quarterfinals, and this competition also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup. For Haitian fans in Jamaica and across the diaspora, tonight is another chance to get behind the blue and red. The FHF has been calling on supporters to fill Sabina Park and bring the energy for the Grenadiers. WHERE TO WATCH 📍 Sabina Park — Kingston, Jamaica 📅 Thursday, September 24 ⏰ 8:20 p.m. — Kingston, Haiti & South Florida 🇺🇸 USA: FOX Soccer Plus | ViX Premium | Fubo 🌎 Concacaf App/YouTube — where availab Where are you watching Haiti vs. Trinidad and Tobago tonight? Credits: @caleb_jephte #lunionsuite #haitianamerican