Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
May 2,
2025
Today, I am announcing the State Department’s
designation of Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist
Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The age of impunity for those supporting violence in Haiti
is over.
Haitian gangs, including the Viv Ansanm
coalition and Gran Grif, are the primary source of
instability and violence in Haiti. They are a direct threat
to U.S. national security interests in our region. These
gangs have killed and continue attacking the people of
Haiti, Haitian security forces, and Multinational Security
Support (MSS) mission personnel, and are committed to
overthrowing the government of Haiti. Their ultimate goal is
creating a gang-controlled state where illicit trafficking
and other criminal activities operate freely and terrorize
Haitian citizens. Terrorist designations play a critical
role in our fight against these vicious groups and are an
effective way to curtail support for their terrorist
activities. Engaging in transactions with members of these
groups entails risk in relation to counterterrorism
sanctions authorities, not only for Haitians but also for
U.S. lawful permanent residents and U.S. citizens.
Individuals and entities providing material support or
resources to Viv Ansanm or Gran Grif could face criminal
charges and inadmissibility or removal from the United
States.
We commend the extraordinary bravery of the
Haitian National Police and all international partners
supporting the MSS mission for their ongoing efforts to
establish stability and security in Haiti. We urge all of
Haiti’s political leaders to prioritize the security of
the Haitian people, find solutions to stop the violence, and
make progress toward the restoration of democracy through
free and fair elections. The United States stands with the
Haitian people as they seek a secure, stable future for
their country and citizens.
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Today’s actions taken by
the State Department demonstrate the Trump
Administration’s commitment to protecting our national
security interests and countering these dangerous gangs. For
more information about today’s announcement, see the
Department of State’s fact
sheet.
