Between 800 and 1,200 Haitian migrants are coming to Baldwin or Mobile Counties within the next two to three weeks, according to immigration whistleblower Jay Palmer.
However, some officials say they have not received confirmation.
Palmer, who consults with Haitian pastors weekly in North Alabama, told 1819 News that an NGO (non-government organization) alerted the pastors to prepare for the influx. Palmer told 1819 News that the migrants are part of the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan (CHNV) program, a program that has been plagued with criminal allegations and fraud.
The Biden-Harris administration first created a process to permit Ukrainian nationals to live in the United States for a two-year parole period in 2022. Later that year, the program was made available to Venezuelans. In 2023, it was expanded to Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua, creating the CHNV program.
A lawsuit filed against the program by 21 states (including Alabama) was dismissed in 2023 because the states could not prove financial harm was suffered due to the program. Judge Drew Tipton of the Southern District of Texas stated the program did reduce overall border crossings.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allowed to process up to 30,000 migrants a month through the program.
The program was briefly paused for an internal review, and additional safeguards, including "rigorous enhanced vetting in the supporter application process," were put into place, DHS claims. It is unclear why those safeguards were not part of the initial process.
Supporters, or "sponsors," of Haitians provide them with financial support, housing and jobs. However, some say these sponsors are defrauding the government, pocketing money and not providing adequate living quarters or jobs for the migrants. In fact, the migrants are at risk for human trafficking, both labor and sex.
Palmer told 1819 News that sponsors often hold passports and other documents to prevent workers from reporting harsh conditions.
The exact locations where the migrants in Mobile and Baldwin Counties will be placed are unclear.
U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) said he worked throughout the weekend speaking to other lawmakers and local leaders about the idea of 1,000 Haitian migrants being settled in Baldwin County.
"All weekend I have worked with Jennifer Fidler, Hoss Mack, Anthony Lowery, the new sheriff, Sherry Sullivan, the mayor of Fairhope," he said. "I mean it's just been a who's who of people. We've been working all weekend trying to run facts down."
"I can give you what I think the scenario is because nobody knows," Carl added. "I think it is a story that's gotten way out of hand."
He believes the situation has been blown out of proportion and doesn't want people to panic. While he can see workers being sent to Baldwin County, he does not believe they would have anywhere to stay.
"I don't think you're going to see a thousand illegal immigrants in Baldwin County, bottom line," Carl said. "I think that there may be a thousand people coming to work and fill jobs, but the one thing that everything hinges on is the affordability of housing."
"If they can't put a thousand people up, or let's just cut it down and say a hundred people up, they can't afford those jobs," he added. "Those jobs, those people are here legally, according to Biden and Harris."
Carl said even officials in Escambia County have not been informed of any influx of Haitian migrants coming to the area. However, a similar situation happened in Sylacauga, and local and state officials were not alerted to that influx either.
Still, Carl believes people took a small quote from an 1819 News article and ran with it.
"So, I think this may be overreacting to the Enterprise story, and I didn't keep up with Enterprise situation," Carl said. "The Sylacauga situation, I didn't keep up with it, but I got filled in on it Saturday."
"So, we need to pump the brakes a little bit," he continued. "Let's kind of figure this out."
Nationwide, communities have experienced mass concern with the influx of Haitian immigrants in towns and cities. Palmer said Haitians who fled to the United States following the earthquake are now getting worried they will be targeted and sent back to Haiti because of the new, more "entitled-minded" population coming over.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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