The US Congress adopts unprecedented law against collusion between Haitian gangs and elites

WASHINGTON.— Faced with the worsening security crisis in Haiti, the United States Congress has adopted legislation directly targeting collusion networks between armed gangs and Haitian political and economic actors. Integrated into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act marks a major turning point in the American approach to the Haitian issue. According to a Miami Herald publication dated Thursday, December 18, 2025, relayed in Haiti by Le Nouvelliste, this new law obliges the American administration to conduct in-depth investigations into members of the Haitian elites suspected of collaborating with armed criminal groups. The text also stipulates that the results of these investigations must be communicated to Congress, paving the way for targeted sanctions against individuals found guilty of collusion. This is the only major legislation specifically dedicated to Haiti adopted by the US Congress in 2025, reflecting Washington's growing concern over the country's security and institutional collapse. A rare bipartisan consensus on the Haitian issue The bill was introduced by Democratic Representative Gregory Meeks, elected from New York and an influential member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It was co-sponsored by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, from New Hampshire, a key figure on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Republican Senator Rick Scott, from Florida. This convergence between Democrats and Republicans constitutes a rare bipartisan consensus on the Haitian question, long relegated to the background of the American legislative agenda. Annual reports for five years Once signed into law by US President Donald Trump, the act will require the Secretary of State to submit, for five consecutive years, a detailed report assessing the extent and nature of criminal collusion in Haiti. These reports must identify:
the most powerful armed gangs in the country and their leaders;
current or former public officials involved;
economic actors maintaining direct and significant ties with these groups. The text also requires an analysis of the mechanisms by which these alliances serve private interests, to the detriment of the rule of law and national stability. Increased pressure on criminal networks Through this initiative, the United States demonstrates its will to strengthen transparency, accountability, and the fight against impunity in Haiti. For many observers, this law could increase international pressure on politico-criminal networks accused of fueling chronic insecurity and the paralysis of Haitian institutions. It remains to be seen, however, to what extent these provisions will produce concrete effects on the ground, in a context marked by the weakness of the Haitian judicial system and the persistence of armed violence. Jean Mapou