The chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, Henry Wooster, laid out in three sentences the main lines of the Trump administration’s policy during an exchange with a pool of journalists on Friday, August 22, 2025. “The era of impunity is over. Haiti’s stability is important to the USA. Haiti’s future is in the hands of Haitians,” he said.

On the end of impunity, the diplomat referred to the tougher stance, arrests, and prosecutions against those who provide financial support or arm the gangs, which were declared terrorist organizations last May. “In May, we designated Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as foreign terrorist organizations. This means that those who finance these gangs, whether they are in Haiti or elsewhere, can be prosecuted in the U.S.,” said Henry Wooster.