Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Meeks Lead Letter Demanding Urgent Action to Stop Flow of U.S. Guns Fueling Violence in Haiti

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05) led a letter with more than 32 of their colleagues calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to take immediate, decisive action to halt the illegal flow of firearms and ammunition from the United States to Haiti.

Haiti, which manufactures no guns or ammunition, has seen a staggering influx of illicit U.S.-origin weapons—primarily funneled through South Florida. Between 2016 and 2023, 90% of illegal Caribbean-bound firearms shipments originated in Florida, including through the Miami River and Port Everglades. These weapons are enabling gangs that now control over 90% of the capital, Port-au-Prince, to commit mass violence, displace over a million people, and kill thousands.

“The unabated flow of illicit arms to Haiti doesn’t just represent a threat to the safety of millions of Haitians on the island—it threatens U.S. national security as the instability created by gangs using U.S.-manufactured weapons drives outward migration” the lawmakers wrote.

The letter outlines a targeted list of policy recommendations for the administration, including:

• Increasing CBP screening of outgoing cargo from high-risk ports in South Florida.
• Partnering with ATF to trace weapons recovered in Haiti, mirroring efforts used in Mexico.
• Closing shipping loopholes that allow anonymous packages under $2,500 in declared value.
• Coordinating an interagency strategy involving DOJ, Commerce, and Defense to disrupt arms trafficking.
• Collaborating with the Dominican Republic to intercept arms moving through its territory.
• Supporting congressional action through the bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act.

For full text of the letter, click here.

The letter is signed by Representatives Gabe Amo, Wesley Bell, André Carson, Greg Casar, Kathy Castor, Joaquin Castro, Yvette Clarke, Madeleine Dean, Lois Frankel, Laura Gillen, Daniel Goldman, Jonathan Jackson, Pramila Jayapal, Henry Johnson, William Keating, Sarah McBride, James McGovern, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Eleanor Norton, Ayanna Pressley, Mike Quigley, Bradley Schneider, Darren Soto, Thomas Suozzi, Shri Thanedar, Ritchie Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Maxine Waters, Frederica Wilson.