U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos, a Haitian citizen and lawful permanent U.S. resident, on charges of immigration fraud and suspected involvement in Haitian gang activity. The arrest took place in Miami, where Boulos is currently detained.
According to ICE, Boulos is believed to have supported and collaborated with leaders of Viv Ansanm, a Haitian gang designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Officials claim his actions have contributed to the destabilization of Haiti, raising concerns about their impact on U.S. foreign policy in the region.
The charges stem from Boulos’s alleged failure to disclose critical details during his U.S. immigration process. Authorities say he omitted his role as a founder of Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haiti (MTVAyiti), a political party promoting nationalist and economic ideals rooted in Haiti’s revolutionary history. He is also under investigation by Haiti’s anti-corruption unit for allegedly misusing business loans.
U.S. authorities argue that these omissions constitute immigration fraud and could lead to his deportation. “Individuals who gain legal status in the United States must not support or aid criminal or terrorist groups,” an ICE official stated, underscoring the broader national security concerns.
The ongoing investigation involves several agencies, including 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 a separate case, ICE also re-arrested Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a Mexican national in Chicago, for allegedly concealing the body of a decapitated woman. Despite previous charges, he had been released before his recent re-arrest, prompting further scrutiny of ICE detention practices.
These developments highlight ICE’s continued focus on individuals posing potential threats to U.S. security and foreign relations through criminal affiliations or fraudulent immigration activity.