by Stacy Jackson

April 16, 2025

DOGE Pushes Agencies To Turn Over Data To Find Undocumented Immigrants

Personal data of suspected immigrants that is normally protected is now being handed over at the request of the U.S. DOGE Service

In the Trump administration’s search for undocumented immigrants, federal agencies are being pressed by United States DOGE Service officials to hand over personal data on where individuals work, study, and live.

As DOGE eagerly pursues its mission to remove undocumented immigrants from federal housing and employment, the pressure is on for federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Education Department, who have been asked to release personal information on individuals that is normally protected.

“The government is finally doing what it should have all along: sharing information across the federal government to solve problems,” a Department of Homeland Security official told The Washington Post.

Last week, the Social Security Administration submitted names and Social Security numbers of over 6,000 mostly Latino immigrants into a database used to track dead people. The immigrants who entered the U.S. are now prohibited from receiving benefits or employment status. DOGE officials have spent the past several weeks digging for information like full names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, mailing addresses, contact information, bank details, and more to uncover citizenship status.

“Information sharing across agencies is essential to identify who is in our country, including violent criminals, determine what public safety and terror threats may exist, scrub these individuals from voter rolls, as well as identify what public benefits these aliens are using at taxpayer expense,” said the assistant secretary for public affairs at DHS.

This month, IRS officials were pressed to share tax information in the DOGE’s search for nearly seven million people suspected of residing in the United States illegally. Individuals who have reported their information for years have recently had their data turned over due to illegal immigration speculations.

According to legal experts, sharing individual’s data is “a breach of privacy” and violates the rules that have been established to “ensure trust in government programs and services.”

A March announcement from Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner revealed an agreement between the department and Homeland Security to examine whether taxpayer-funded housing programs are being used to “harbor or benefit” illegal aliens.

Citing the $42 billion in costs to support the 59 percent of immigrant households on welfare and 24,000 ineligible residents in HUD-assisted housing, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said, “The entire government will work together to identify abuse and exploitation of public benefits and make sure those in this country illegally are not receiving federal benefits or other financial incentives to stay illegally. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now.”

Additionally, DOGE staffer Mike Mirski is leading an effort to ban undocumented immigrants from living with U.S. citizens or other eligible family members.

At the Education Department, DOGE officials are pushing for information on potential deportees through the administration’s February investigation of five universities’ handling of antisemitism allegations regarding Israel’s war in Gaza.

Attorneys were pressed to request protestors’ names and nationalities from involved institutions. White House official Max Eden suggested in a December essay that the department’s civil rights office obtain “the identities of every single foreign student who supported the protests.” Immigration authorities could then revoke the visas of any foreign student protestor.

As President Donald Trump attempts to make the most deportations in U.S. history, he has already reopened family detention centers, transported migrants to a former prison for suspected terrorists, and invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

Bank Of America To Pay $540M Amid Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Lawsuit

by Stacy Jackson

April 16, 2025

Bank Of America To Pay $540M Amid Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Lawsuit

Bank of America claimed its company's intent was not to avoid any payments to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Bank of America faces a $540 million bill after a federal judge ordered the financial institution to pay up on Monday amid a federal lawsuit.

The ruling comes after the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation lawsuit accused the mega U.S. bank of failing to pay the complete amount it owed for deposit insurance. According to a press release, U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan’s 59-page decision resolves a long-running lawsuit filed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 2017, which claimed Bank of America violated a 2011 regulation after it reduced its deposit insurance contributions.

The FDIC sought $1.12 billion after Bank of America allegedly failed to uphold the rule, which was reportedly established to modify how banks report risk exposure to counterparties, alongside other federal reforms created to protect the banking system and avoid financial crises. The Washington D.C. judge rejected Bank of America’s claims that the basis for the rule was unreasonable. The financial institution’s argument that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” was also rejected by Judge AliKhan in Monday’s ruling.

The decision stated that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation did not need to present a precise measure of banks’ probable exposure to losses. However, Bank of America could claim that its company “lacked fair notice of what was required of it.”

“We are pleased the judge has ruled and have reserves reflecting the decision,” said Bank of America spokesperson Bill Haldin.

Judge AliKhan ruled this week that Bank of America would pay $540 million to cover assessments from the second quarter of 2013 through 2014. The total will also handle interest. For claims earlier than the second quarter of 2013, the judge said it was too late for the FDIC to sue. Bank of America was expected to report first-quarter results on Tuesday.

Man, Conviction, Racist Threats, Pregnant Black Woman

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 16, 2025

Formerly Incarcerated Married Couple Releases Oscar-Nominated Documentary ‘Time’ For Free

Formerly incarcerated couple turned criminal justice reform advocates Sibil “Fox Rich” Richardson and Rob Richardson are celebrating the free release of their Academy Award-nominated documentary Time.

The longtime couple and parents of six, who endured 21 years as an incarcerated family, announced on Instagram on April 14 that their acclaimed 2020 documentary Time is now available to stream for free. A video trailer offers a powerful glimpse into the film, which chronicles Fox’s relentless fight to free her husband, who was serving a 60-year sentence for armed bank robbery.

“From young love to facing 297 years… Our story has twists you won’t believe, from raising six sons to launching Shreveport’s first hip-hop store,” they captioned their post. “There’s so much more to our journey.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fox and Rob Rich (@foxandrob)

Directed by Garrett Bradley, Time weaves together original footage and home videos to tell the story of Sibil—a self-described abolitionist, author, and mother of six—as she campaigns for the release of her husband, Rob, from a 60-year sentence at Louisiana State Penitentiary, or Angola, for their involvement in an armed bank robbery. While Sybil served three and a half years for her role, Rob remained incarcerated for 21 years before receiving clemency from then-Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards in 2018.

“On that September day, after dropping Rob and our nephew Ontario off at a bank, I sat on a nearby hillside with binoculars,” Sibil wrote of the 1997 bank robbery that changed their lives forever. “I was breathless, watching as they attempted an armed bank robbery. It resulted in a foot chase, gunshots, and the end of our life as we knew it.”

After her prison release, Sibil began the journey of raising their six children on her own while fighting for Rob’s release.

“It was very hard. I had to be a double parent,” Sibil shared. “When my children needed something, I couldn’t say, “Go ask your father.” I recognized very early on I couldn’t do this by myself. With the help of my mother and our community, I raised our six sons throughout Rob’s entire incarceration.”

Bradley’s compelling documentary on the Richardsons’ love and resilience premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 25, 2020, making history as she became the first African American woman to win the U.S. Documentary Directing Award. The Time film earned a nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards and became one of the rare documentaries to sweep the “Big Four” critics’ prizes.

by Stacy Jackson

April 16, 2025

Recall Issued On Johnsonville’s Cheddar Bratwurst Due To Reports Of Hard Plastic

The Class I recall was issued after two Johnsonville customers claimed "hard plastic material" was found in the cheddar bratwurst product.

A Class I recall on over 22,000 pounds of Johnsonville’s cheddar bratwurst has been issued to retail locations across several states after customers reported finding plastic in the product.

The sausage company, headquartered in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, notified the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service of the matter following reports from two customers who claimed “hard plastic material” was found in the bratwurst product, which, according to the recall announcement, was produced on February 5, 2025.

“FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ freezers,” the health agency stated. “Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

https://twitter.com/USDAFoodSafety/status/1909211998430122387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1909211998430122387%7Ctwgr%5E4da090c4b596f20500ab91c86ec26393d316e47b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FUSDAFoodSafety%2Fstatus%2F1909211998430122387

The Class I recall on Johnsonville’s cheddar bratwurst has been issued across retailers in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin due to what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration specifies as “a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.” No injuries have been reported in the case. However, consumers with injury concerns are encouraged to contact a healthcare provider.

BLACK ENTERPRISE previously covered a new study in Communications Biology that revealed how microplastics are a growing threat to human health and have been linked to the increased risk of kidney damage. Following a 2024 report that found recalls due to plastic contamination in foods had reached a five-year high, the Plastic Pollution Coalition cited 2024 recalls on over 61,000 pounds of Trader Joe’s Steamed Chicken Soup Dumplings; Walmart’s Great Value cheese danishes and cinnamon rolls; Costco’s Kodiak Waffles and Tillamook Cheese; and General Mills’ Annie’s Organic Cheesy Mac.

Consumers with food safety questions are urged to contact the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline or send an email. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 16, 2025

From Bassline to Black Liberation: ‘We Want The Funk!’ Drops Truth Bombs In New Documentary

Stanley Nelson and Nicole London explain the soundtrack of freedom.

We Want The Funk!, a documentary exploring the Funk genre that defined the 1970s, is now airing on PBS. Set against the backdrop of the post-civil rights Black community, director Stanley Nelson and producer Nicole London remind the world what freedom looks and sounds like.

Funk is just one branch of the massive tree that is Black American music. Contrary to the polished, camera-ready acts that displayed Black refinement and excellence during the civil rights era’s push for acceptance, funk traveled a different path. It knew there had to be a balance. While Motown’s Temptations and Supremes embodied poise and classic glamour on national TV, funk was brewing in the shadows — raw, gritty, and completely unfiltered. It didn’t ask for permission. It showed up loud, proud, and weird in the best way.

Funk was a genre of sonic color, a genre that crossed oceans, a genre rooted in radical joy and inclusivity. We Want The Funk! makes clear that Black art is not just expression — it’s liberation. Recently, Nelson and London spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about the documentary and its inspiration.

BE: The film opens by giving a nod to the polished presentation of Motown. What guided your choice in using that particular musical backdrop as a starting point?

Stanley Nelson: We actually started with American Bandstand. We wanted to show that something existed before funk. Motown is wonderful, but it took a bit of the edge off. I think it’s such a great contrast when we cut to James Brown — you see him sweating, doing splits, just going for it.

Let’s talk about the links between gospel and Funk. What parallels were you drawing between the sacred and the sonic evolution of funk?

Nelson: We recognized that there was this transcendent feeling — a collective being taken higher.

Nicole London: It’s very close to a church experience, and we wanted to make that connection.

Afrofuturism has exploded into the mainstream — for example, Children of Blood and Bone. But funk laid that groundwork, visually and sonically, long before. What inspired you to lean into that legacy in the film?

Nelson: A lot of times, people don’t put it all together. It’s a cool moment in the film when someone says, “What if we, as Black people, were just from somewhere else?” Where we don’t talk about the hundreds of years of enslavement and misery. We are from a new cloth.

London: Nona Hendryx talks about how Black people, in order to survive, had to envision a future in the present. We’ve always had to imagine what our next step would be beyond the confines of the existence we’re living in.

Funk broke borders, making its way to England with David Bowie, Talking Heads and Elton John. Then, it gave rise to something entirely new through Fela Kuti. How did you begin to gather all of the extended roots of funk?

London: We always knew we wanted to talk about the Talking Heads. Bennie and the Jets fell into our laps when we spoke to Donnie Simpson, and then Kirk Franklin mentioned it. We could have made the obvious choices, but the serendipity of it was irresistible. Carlos Alomar worked with Bowie and helped flesh out the bridge we wanted to connect. Then we found out he also worked with James Brown and Bowie. That wouldn’t have come up through research.

Nelson: It was really important to show that Fela heard James Brown, fell in love with funk, then went back to Africa and started from the beginning. The roots of funk are in Africa.

You featured Labelle and female members of Parliament-Funkadelic in the documentary. Do you think women’s contributions to funk have been overlooked or underplayed?

London: That could be a whole film by itself. We tried to highlight great examples that show the power and strength of women in funk.

What do you think people take from the film that can apply to today’s social and political landscape?

Nelson: At its core, it’s about freedom — it’s about transcendence. I think that’s what we need today and are going to continue to need. It’s about knowing who we are and not caring what anybody expects of us.

London: Ricky Vincent says it in the film — we’re on this other plane, in this other space. We can take our own joy and keep it for ourselves.

Funk’s story is inseparable from the decline of arts education in public schools. Do you see that loss as a direct hit to the legacy and future of Black artistic expression?

Nelson: One thing Black people are great at is losing something and gaining something out of that loss. We lost something. But we gained something, too — with DJs, scratching, and hip-hop, which is now the prominent form of music today.

Biden, Trump, Election, Presidential Election, transfer of power, rough transfer of power, Kamala Harris

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 16, 2025

Biden Slams Trump’s Order To Cut Social Security Benefits For Undocumented U.S. Residents

Trump’s memorandum targets individuals 100 years or older with Social Security records that don't match in effort to combat identity theft

In his first public speech since leaving office in January, former President Joe Biden spoke out about the “damage and destruction” caused by the Trump administration hours after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on April 15 to cut Social Security benefits for undocumented U.S. residents, Newsweek reports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the document expands the Social Security Fraud Prosecutor Program to close to 50 U.S. attorney offices to develop a Medicare and Medicaid fraud prosecution program already implemented in 15 U.S. attorney offices.

Under the order, the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General will be responsible for investigating earning reports for individuals 100 years or older with Social Security records that don’t match in an effort to combat identity theft.

“Policing Social Security Act fraud is critical because the Act contains not only traditional Social Security provided to older Americans, but also unemployment insurance, disability insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, TANF, and other programs,” the memorandum reads.

Leavitt blamed Biden for such a document to be signed.

“These taxpayer-funded benefits should be only for eligible taxpayers…” she said. “Biden should think about what he did in his last term, which is allowing tens of millions of illegal people into our country, many of whom were fraudulently receiving these benefits.”

The move came just hours after Biden spoke to disability advocates in Chicago stating Trump has destroyed the program that millions of Americans rely on, according to the New York Times.

“Look what’s happened now; fewer than 100 days into this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It is kind of breathtaking it could happen that soon,” Biden, 82, said.

“Social Security deserves to be protected for the good of the nation as a whole,” he continued, highlighting how the new administration has adopted a Silicon Valley ideology of “move fast and break things.”

“Well, they’re certainly breaking things,” he added. They’re shooting first and aiming later.”

Former President Biden: "Look what's happened now, fewer than 100 days into this new administration has done so much damage and so much destruction. It is kind of breathtaking it could happen that soon." pic.twitter.com/UrggjUWvQJ
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 15, 2025

Trump’s memorandum shouldn’t impact lawful immigrants or U.S. citizens. Trump, on numerous occasions, promised not to cut Social Security benefits for the 73 million Americans enrolled, however, offices claim to be flooded with calls and questions concerned about potential changes to their benefits and other worries.

Under the Social Security Protection Act of 2004, undocumented immigrants are seemingly ineligible for benefits unless they have valid work authorization and have paid into the system with a legitimate Social Security number.

However, data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) indicates “American taxpayers spend at least $182 billion annually to cover the costs incurred by the presence of 20 million illegal aliens and their children.”

Kodak Black, Rap, Trump,rent, Florida, residents

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 16, 2025

Kodak Black Fronts Rent Payments For Over 200 Pompano Beach Residents For The Second Time

He reportedly paid the past 2 months rent for residents in his hometown

Florida rapper Kodak Black recently helped over 200 Pompano Beach housing project residents by paying their rent for the month. This was the second straight month he performed the charitable deed.

According to a Facebook post by Vince Thompson, a senior support manager at SLG Systems Inc., the recording artist provided the monthly payments for the residents of Golden Acres.

“He may not want the limelight, but for the 2nd month straight @kodakblack has paid the rent for over 200 residents in Golden Acres, the entire project! A lot of people shine light on the negativity. Imma see how many people share the positive things you do, fam. You’re A Blessing to a lot of people. Thank you!! #1800 #projectbaby #snipergang #GATABOYSSTAYHOT “

The news was posted on April 12.

The man born Dieuson Octav grew up in Pompano Beach, Florida, where the buildings are located.

According to HipHopDX, this isn’t Kodak’s first time sharing his generosity. He performed a similar deed in 2022 when he paid outstanding rent arrears for 28 families. Not only did he pay the back rent, but he reportedly paid their rent for the next several months. The media outlet reported that he brought it to the attention of his fans when he posted it to his Instagram Stories page.

“28 Families Was Bout To Get Evicted For Being Behind On Their Rent A Few Months,” Kodak wrote. “I Paid What They Owed And Also Paid Their Rents For The Next Few Months So They Good For The Remaining Of The Year.”

The recent charitable offering is in stark contrast to recent reports of the “Super Gremlin” rapper.

He was seen in a video that went viral eating chicken while sitting in the street. The video prompted people to wonder why he had done such an act. Hopefully, that was an isolated incident, and he continues to give back to the community as he did several days ago.

by Mitti Hicks

April 16, 2025

Florida AG Threatens To Remove Orlando Mayor Over Immigration Policy

The conflict takes places as the Trump administration is immersed in its own constitutional crisis

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is threatening to remove Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for “sanctuary city” policies that Uthmeier says are outlawed.

Uthmeier said he sent a letter to Dyer “reminding him that the sanctuary policy adopted by the city in 2018, the ‘Trust Act,’ is void under a 2019 law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The letter was in response to comments Dyer made in a council meeting last week. Dyer said Orlando Police Department officers would not be proactive in immigration enforcement under Orlando’s Trust Act policy.

Uthmeier said his “office will take legal action against the City of Orlando and any city employee or agent thereof that violates chapter 908 of the Florida Statutes.”

Florida Attorney General Warns Orlando Mayor To Abide By State Laws

Chapter 908 of the Florida Statutes contains provisions that outline how the state will enforce federal immigration laws. According to Uthmeier’s letter, Florida statutes prohibit law enforcement and local government entities from adopting or having any sanctuary policy.

“Sanctuary policies” refer to laws, policies, or procedures adopted by a state or city that prohibit or impede law enforcement agencies from communicating or cooperating with federal immigration agencies.

“Sanctuary policies are not tolerated or lawful in Florida,” Dyer wrote. “Failure to abide by state law may result in the enforcement of applicable penalties,” including removal from office.

Dyer responded to the Uthmeier’s letter, saying that he has no intention of violating federal or state laws.

Today, I sent a letter to @orlandomayor reminding him that the sanctuary policy adopted by the city in 2018, the ‘Trust Act,’ is void under a 2019 law signed by @GovRonDeSantis.

If the city enforces the policy as Mayor Dyer suggested, especially with @OrlandoPolice signing a… pic.twitter.com/InLAJRIDeQ
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) April 14, 2025

“As you know, we have signed the Memorandum of Agreement 287 (g) Task Force Model with ICE,” Dyer said. “Our OPD officers are in the process of being trained by ICE to provide assistance at its direction. We assure you we will continue to use our best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law, as well as state law.”

Constitutional Crisis Brewing Over Immigration

The conversation in Florida is happening when many Americans are questioning the Trump administration’s tactics to combat illegal immigration. There’s a constitutional crisis brewing after a federal judge ruled the administration to return a Maryland man wrongly deported to an El Salvador prison.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia illegally immigrated to the U.S. in 2011 as a teenager. He was given a “withholding of removal” status in 2019, according to The Hill. Abrego Garcia argued he faced threats to his life from gang violence in his home country of El Salvador. He is a married father of three working as a sheet metal apprentice.

The Trump administration said Abrego Garcia of having ties to the gang MS-13. There is no evidence to support these claims at this time. The Supreme Court upheld the district court’s ruling for the administration to return him to Maryland. But Attorney General Pam Bondi said the administration has no plans to return him.

“The U.S. Constitution sets up a system of checks and balances where the branches respect one another, and the executive branch generally complies with federal court orders—especially when they’re issued by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Elora Mukherjee, a law professor at Columbia, told Courthouse News.

Amazon, CEO, Andy Jassy, middle managers

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 16, 2025

Amazon CEO Lays Out Plans To Cut Middle Managers ‘Who Want To Put Their Fingerprint On Everything’

Close to 52% of Gen Z workers admitted that they would rather skip over being middle managers.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy is standing on business when it comes to “eliminating bureaucracy” by cutting out middle managers as a follow-up to mass layoffs that occurred in early 2025, Inc. reports.

Jassy reiterated his plans to reduce managerial ranks in his annual letter to company shareholders. The objective is to make the online retail giant “operate like the world’s largest startup” to move faster, create a better customer experience, and improve the shopping experience. He is moving past Amazon’s past ways of relying on “owners.”

He defines “owners as “really smart, motivated, inventive, ambitious people” who want to achieve goals by asking the question, “What would I do if I started this company and I was the majority owner?”

“Owners feel accountable,” Jassy said.

“They care deeply about the quality and effectiveness of what they own, and view the company’s mission as their mission… That’s part of what our effort to increase the ratio of individual contributors versus managers is about.”

But what does that mean for some of Amazon’s lower-level or white-collar employees?

By diminishing the number of managers, those in such positions will no longer need clearance before launching into action. Jassy feels it will remove “unneeded processes that get layered on that add little value.”

“Builders hate bureaucracy. It slows them down, frustrates them, and keeps them from doing what they came here to do,” he explained. “As leaders, we don’t always see the red tape buried deep in our organizations, but we can sure as heck eliminate it when we do.”

The new moves shouldn’t surprise stakeholders and employees. According to Fortune, in September 2024, the CEO announced he wanted to “increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of Q1 2025.” Amazon isn’t the only major corporation to initiate such moves.

META CEO Mark Zuckerberg labeled “flattening” as a key part of a business’s restructuring in 2023. He claimed that asking middle managers to become individual contributors would assist in making the company’s information flow more efficient. And data shows this is what the incoming working generation — Gen Z – wants. A 2025 survey from recruitment company Robert Walters found close to 52% of Gen Z workers admitted that they would rather skip over being middle managers.

Seventy-two percent said they would much rather take an “individual route to progression” over supervising, as they see how the concept results in intense burnout, as demonstrated by their bosses.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 16, 2025

CARICOM ‘Deeply Concerned’ About Coup Threat in Haiti

CARICOM is speaking out against growing threats of a government overthrow in Haiti.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a 15-member Caribbean Community regional bloc, has issued a warning in response to escalating threats from a coalition of criminal gangs in Haiti that are attempting to overthrow the government.

In a statement dated April 13, CARICOM expressed being “deeply concerned” by recent reports of a possible coup in Haiti. The threats from the coalition of gangs threatening to seize power from the government are “completely unacceptable,” CARICOM said, as captured by Haiti Libre.

“CARICOM strongly condemns any attempt to replace the transitional arrangements by force and violence,” the statement read. “These arrangements were put in place by Haitian stakeholders to pave the way for free and fair elections by February 7, 2026, and to return Haiti to constitutional authority.”

Amid ongoing threats, CARICOM has been actively consulting with Haiti and international partners to swiftly deliver additional security support. The U.S. State Department has also denounced the threats and pledged its assistance.

“The United States supports the statement by CARICOM condemning any actions to destabilize Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council,” said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, noting continued talks to “consult with governments across the region.”

Government responses come as the transitional leadership in Haiti faces mounting threats from gangs and their allies, allegedly plotting an overthrow. The country was gripped by chaos over the weekend as fear and uncertainty grew over which vulnerable communities might be targeted next.

Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, established a year ago to restore security and guide the country back to democracy through elections, has faced growing challenges, both from escalating gang violence and internal governance struggles. However, the Viv Ansanm gang coalition’s recent takeover of Mirebalais in central Haiti has sparked widespread panic and highlighted that no region in the country is truly safe.

The mounting threats of coordinated armed attacks prompted local authorities across Haiti to raise alarms on April 12. In central Haiti, where the powerful Viv Ansanm gang recently seized control of Mirebalais, officials issued urgent warnings for nearby Hinche and the Péligre dam, the country’s largest electricity producer.

Haitian police, along with the Kenya-led multinational force, continue to struggle to push back against advancing gang coalitions and prevent more territory from falling under their control. Since the start of the year, gangs have captured more towns and neighborhoods, now reportedly holding as much as 90% of the capital.

In response, CARICOM warns that the “increased violence will simply hurt those who are least capable of protecting themselves. This, too, is completely unacceptable.” The group urges ”the international community, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States, to take all necessary steps to support the Haitian authorities as they address this crisis.”