The Assassination of Haiti’s President Portends a Migrant Surge

The assassination of Haiti’s president will further destabilize the country, leading to an increase in Haitian economic migrants and asylum seekers looking for refuge in neighboring countries and France. On July 7, Haitien President Jovenel Moise was fatally shot in his private residence in the capital city of Port au Prince. While the perpetrators of the attack remain unknown, they were likely mercenaries potentially hired by Moise’s political opponents or gang members. Moise’s death leaves Haiti with a political leadership void following the July 5 resignation of Prime Minister Claude Joseph whose successor has yet to be sworn in. In the wake of Moise’s death, Joseph proclaimed himself the interim executive and declared a state of siege, which grants more powers to the executive branch....