On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, U.S. immigration agents arrested Dimitri Vorbe, one of Haiti’s most prominent businessmen, outside his Miami home. The arrest, confirmed by official records and widely reported by outlets such as the Miami Herald and the Associated Press, marks a significant escalation in Washington’s efforts to address the ongoing crisis of gang violence and political instability plaguing Haiti.
Vorbe, who leads SOGENER (Société Générale d’Énergie S.A.), a key electricity provider in Haiti, is currently being held at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) records. The arrest has sent shockwaves through both the Haitian diaspora and international observers, highlighting the deepening scrutiny of Haiti’s economic elite by U.S. authorities.
The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Haiti stated on social media that Vorbe "engaged in a campaign of violence and gang support that contributed to Haiti’s destabilization." The embassy’s post included a mugshot of Vorbe emblazoned with the word "DETAINED" in red capital letters, a visual that quickly circulated online. The statement added that Vorbe’s "presence or activities in the United States would have potential serious adverse foreign policy consequences," providing a basis for his removal from the country.
Despite these stark allegations, U.S. authorities have yet to release detailed evidence supporting their claims. As of September 24, 2025, no formal charges have been filed against Vorbe in Florida courts, and ICE has not responded to media inquiries or issued a comprehensive public statement regarding the case, as reported by the Miami Herald and corroborated by inews.zoombangla.com.
Vorbe’s legal entanglements in the United States are not new. He has been in the country since January 2020 under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a designation that shields certain foreign nationals from deportation due to conditions in their home countries. He has an ongoing immigration case, with hearings repeatedly rescheduled for reasons not disclosed to the public. In August 2020, ICE agents previously detained Vorbe at his Florida residence for alleged visa violations. During that episode, his attorney presented paperwork showing that an extension for his U.S. stay had been filed, and Vorbe was released on bail shortly thereafter.
The timing of Vorbe’s latest arrest is notable. It follows the July 2025 detention of Pierre Réginald Boulos, another influential Haitian businessman and former presidential candidate, also accused by U.S. authorities of supporting violent gangs that have been deemed terrorist organizations. Both men are currently held at the Krome North facility near Miami, underscoring a broader U.S. crackdown on members of Haiti’s business and political elite.
Vorbe’s business dealings have long been a source of controversy in Haiti. SOGENER, his family’s company, was once the country’s largest supplier of electricity, holding lucrative government contracts for energy generation and major infrastructure projects in road construction, housing, and more. These contracts, awarded during previous Haitian administrations, fueled persistent allegations of corruption and political favoritism. In 2020, the late President Jovenel Moïse’s administration seized SOGENER, accusing it of fraud and mismanagement—a move that thrust Vorbe into a bitter public dispute with the government. Vorbe’s opposition to the political party of former President Michel Martelly and his later clash with Moïse placed him at the center of Haiti’s ongoing struggle between political and economic power.
According to AP and Miami Herald reports, the U.S. government’s recent actions against Vorbe and other Haitian elites are part of a wider campaign. Washington has increasingly used arrests, financial sanctions, and migration restrictions to target individuals it believes are funding or facilitating the armed gangs that now control up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. Violence has surged in recent months, and the situation has become so dire that the United Nations authorized a special mission in 2024, led by Kenyan officers, to support Haiti’s beleaguered National Police.
The U.N.-backed mission, however, has struggled to make a significant impact. As Kenyan President William Ruto told the U.N. General Assembly on September 22, 2025, the mission has less than 1,000 personnel—far below the 2,500 originally envisioned—and just $112 million in its trust fund, a mere 14% of the estimated $800 million needed annually. Ruto highlighted logistical and support challenges, even noting that "most of [the vehicles provided by the U.S.] were second-hand, and they broke down and put our people in grave danger when it happened in hostile areas." He called for a successor mission with a "much more robust mandate to be able to deal with the gangs and the situation on the ground."
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the U.S. and Panama have urged the U.N. Security Council to authorize a new force of 5,550 personnel in Haiti with the authority to detain suspected gang members. The urgency of the crisis was echoed by Luis Abinader, president of the Dominican Republic, who told the U.N. on September 24, 2025, that "the multidimensional crisis in Haiti represents a serious threat to peace and security for the Dominican Republic and the entire region." He voiced support for "coherent and sustained international action" and backed the proposed gang-suppression force.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has quietly canceled visas or denied entry to several members of Haiti’s private sector, often without providing explicit reasons. Some businessmen have been detained for hours at Miami International Airport, interrogated about their business dealings and connections to other powerful Haitian figures. Many have not been told why they were denied entry, only that their visas had been revoked. The Miami Herald noted that the singling out of Haiti’s elite comes as the State Department tries to address the country’s escalating violence and political paralysis.
For Haiti, the removal of a figure like Dimitri Vorbe from the scene is both symbolic and practical. It strips the country, at least temporarily, of an influential—if controversial—business leader, while sending a clear message to others who may be implicated in the country’s ongoing crisis. For the United States, the case underscores the complex intersection of international business, immigration law, and foreign policy, with potential repercussions that extend far beyond the courtroom.
As the situation continues to develop, observers in both the U.S. and Haiti are watching closely. The outcome of Vorbe’s case could set a precedent for how Washington deals with foreign nationals accused of fueling instability abroad, especially in regions as volatile as the Caribbean.
