February 16, 2026
Haitian businessman Dimitri Vorbe, head of SOGENER, was arrested on Tuesday by ICE in the United States; the precise grounds remain to be confirmed, but the case is already sending shockwaves through Haiti’s political and economic circles. Vorbe is considered a controversial figure, linked to public energy contracts criticized for their lack of transparency and to allegations of corruption.
Réginald Boulos, a physician, entrepreneur, and former presidential candidate, was apprehended on July 17 in Florida by U.S. authorities for “participation in a campaign of violence and support for gangs” involved in destabilizing Haiti. He is currently being held by ICE, and an immigration judge in Miami has ordered that he remain in detention.
At the same time, the United States is stepping up measures against the Haitian oligarchy: several individuals have had their visas revoked, including Jean Philippe Baussan and Philippe Coles, according to recent media reports. Other political figures sanctioned include Rony Célestin and Richard Fourcand, targeted by the U.S. Treasury for their links to drug trafficking and acts deemed corrupt.
This series of arrests and sanctions appears to be part of a Washington strategy aimed at isolating Haitian elites accused of maintaining ties with gangs, corruption, or illicit financing. It could mark a turning point for political and legal accountability in a context where impunity has long prevailed.
