US lawmakers, activists urge action on migration from, firearms to Haiti

U.S. lawmakers on Thursday called for the country to take further action to stop the flow of firearms to Haiti and to halt the forced return of migrants seeking to flee worsening street violence and shortages of essential supplies.
Democratic congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, Cori Bush and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick met with human rights advocates and Haitian organizations to call for the extension of temporary protection status for migrants, an end to deportations and stronger controls at Florida ports, which the United Nations considers the main route for trafficking firearms to gangs which control most of the capital.
Attendees included representatives from the Haitian Bridge Alliance, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Family Action Network Movement and Amnesty International USA.
Haitian armed groups have tightened their grip on the Caribbean country even further since unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation a month ago, deepening a humanitarian crisis as people live under frequent gunfire while ports remain closed, hospitals lack key supplies and stores run out of food.