U.S. Closes Embassy in Haiti - DEVELOPING... 'Escalating Violence'

U.S. Embassy in Haiti Shuts Down Amid Surging Gang Violence

Port-au-Prince, Haiti – August 6, 2025

The United States has temporarily closed its embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as escalating gang violence engulfs the Caribbean nation, plunging its capital into chaos. The State Department announced the closure on Monday, August 4, 2025, following reports of intense gunfire in the Tabarre neighborhood, where the embassy compound is located. All U.S. personnel have been confined to the embassy grounds, with official movements outside the compound suspended until further notice.

The decision comes as Haiti grapples with a deepening humanitarian and security crisis, with armed gangs controlling approximately 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to United Nations estimates. The U.N. Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) reports that in the second quarter of 2025 alone, 1,520 people were killed and 609 injured, primarily due to gang-related violence. Since January 2025, over 3,600 deaths have been recorded, with 1.3 million people displaced, a 24% increase since December 2024.

The closure follows a series of alarming incidents, including a recent attack on U.S. embassy vehicles by the notorious gangs “400 Mawozo” and “Chen Mechan,” as well as gunfire striking a United Nations helicopter in October 2024. No injuries were reported in the embassy vehicle attack, but the incidents underscored the growing audacity of Haiti’s criminal groups, which have targeted critical infrastructure and foreign personnel.

Haiti’s descent into lawlessness has intensified since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, leaving the country without stable leadership. Gangs have seized control of key routes, neighborhoods, and infrastructure, crippling basic services like healthcare and education. The U.N. reports that 5.2 million Haitians—nearly half the population—require urgent humanitarian assistance, including 3 million children without access to essential services.

The U.S. Embassy, while closed to the public, remains operational, with the State Department emphasizing its commitment to supporting the Haitian people. “Our Embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian National Police, expediting the deployment of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, and accelerating a peaceful transition of power via free and fair elections,” a U.S. Southern Command statement read.

This is not the first time the U.S. has scaled back operations in Haiti. In July 2023, the embassy ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and diplomatic family members amid rising violence, and in March 2024, the U.S. military airlifted non-essential staff out of Port-au-Prince as gangs launched coordinated attacks on government buildings. The latest closure reflects a pattern of heightened security measures in response to Haiti’s volatile environment.

The international community’s response has been limited. A U.N.-backed security mission led by Kenya, intended to curb gang violence, has been stalled by funding shortages and logistical challenges, despite pledges of support from the U.S. and other nations. In 2023, the Biden administration committed $165 million to bolster the Haitian National Police and support the mission, but results have been minimal.

Under the Trump administration, which has prioritized “America First” policies, the U.S. has adopted a pragmatic approach, focusing on the safety of its personnel and citizens. In June 2025, the embassy urged U.S. citizens to leave Haiti “as soon as possible” via commercial or private transportation, citing the deteriorating security situation.

The closure has sparked renewed debate about the effectiveness of international interventions in Haiti. Critics argue that the Haitian government’s inability to address gang influence, coupled with allegations of official complicity, has eroded public trust and hindered stabilization efforts. Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with famine-level hunger threatening large swaths of the population as gang blockades disrupt food and aid distribution.

As Haiti teeters on the brink of institutional collapse, the international community faces mounting pressure to act. Caribbean leaders, under the CARICOM regional bloc, are set to meet to discuss the crisis, but time is running out. “The situation on the ground remains dire,” a CARICOM statement warned, urging swift consensus on a path forward.

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