Why A Growing Number Of Haitian Migrants Are Headed To The U.S.

1200w,https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2021/09/29/gettyimages-1235495571_wide-610492548410d3ef9db5b60132f8c9572bad9d7d-s1600-c85.jpg 1600w,https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2021/09/29/gettyimages-1235495571_wide-610492548410d3ef9db5b60132f8c9572bad9d7d-s1800-c85.jpg 1800w" sizes="(min-width: 1300px) 763px, (min-width: 1025px) calc(100vw - 496px), (min-width: 768px) calc(100vw - 171px), calc(100vw - 30px)" type="image/jpeg"/>

Thousands of Haitian migrants who had gathered on the southern border were deported back to their home country last week, even though some of them haven't lived there for a decade. They'd been living in Chile. But increasingly, Haitians in that country are fleeing, in response to a pandemic-battered economy, rising anti-immigrant sentiment, and new government policies.

All those factors are not disappearing any time soon — and neither is the flow of migrants out of the country, says Chilean journalist Ignacio Gallegos. NPR's John Otis reports on one part of their perilous journey north.

Additional reporting in this episode from Stephania Corpi. Special thanks to Texas Public Radio news director Dan Katz.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This episode was produced by Ari Shapiro, Brianna Scott, Alejandra Marquez, and Brent Baughman. It was edited by Matt Ozug, Amy Isackson and Lee Hale. Our executive producer is Cara Tallo.