by Claudy Briend Auguste
New York, June 29, 2025 — Following the Republican administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians — a move that could lead to the deportation of over 500,000 individuals — Haitian religious leaders across the United States are calling for three days of national prayer and fasting, from July 11 to 13.
The announcement was made Sunday evening by Pastor Laurent Mallory, of the Church of God in New York, and confirmed by Pastor Gregory Toussaint, leader of Tabernacle de Gloire in Florida. This spiritual mobilization will include daily fasting from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., without food, as well as online and in-person prayer gatherings across multiple states.
The initiative emerged from an interfaith Zoom meeting held over the weekend, bringing together Haitian pastors and community leaders in response to the administration’s assertion that “Haiti is doing better now” — a claim widely dismissed as disconnected from the country’s current reality.
Just last week, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince urged all American citizens to leave Haiti immediately, citing extreme insecurity. Armed groups have extended their control to new areas, including La Chapelle, which recently joined the expanding list of “territoires perdus” — zones effectively outside state control. “How can they say Haiti is doing better when even their own embassy is telling people to evacuate?” asked Pastor Mallory during his Sunday remarks.
Beyond the call to prayer, religious leaders warn that even Haitians holding green cards or U.S. passports may not be fully protected, given the unpredictability of the current political climate. “No one feels safe. We must pray, but we must also organize. We are not just fighting policies — we’re fighting indifference,” said Pastor Mallory.
Meanwhile, concern deepens over the role of Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council, -CPT-, accused of inaction and distraction. After more than 14 months in place, the CPT has failed to restore order and instead focuses on launching a bogus referendum to replace the 1987 Constitution — a move deemed unconstitutional under Haitian law.
“Haiti has no president, no senators, and no legitimate authority to protect its nationals abroad. Only God can intervene now,” concluded Pastor Mallory. He emphasized that these three days of fasting and prayer are not only spiritual acts, but also a collective cry for justice and accountability, from a people caught between displacement and abandonment.
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