Exclusive: Ariel Henry from Haiti Says He Understands Deportations of Haitian Migrants in the US and Says Elections Will Be Delayed | CNN

Haitians deported by the US: They treated us like prisoners 2:59

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) - Haiti's unelected

leader, Ariel Henry, says he understands why the United States is deporting thousands of Haitian migrants from the Texas border, as he wants to cooperate with the United States, and will give the welcome home those who fled the disaster-stricken country.

In an exclusive interview with CNN from the prime minister's residence in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, Henry, who took over as leader two weeks after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July, also said that elections originally planned for September will be delayed. until next year, after a review of the country's constitution is carried out.

• Lamothe on the assassination of Moïse: "It pains me that there is little interest from the international community"

About 4,000 migrants detained by US Customs and Border Protection in Del Rio, Texas, in recent weeks have been expelled, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation after video surfaced last week of Border Patrol agents on horseback patrol aggressively confronting mostly Haitian migrants.

Several senior administration officials, as well as Democratic congressmen, have expressed outrage at the images, taken by Al Jazeera and Reuters, which appear to show law enforcement officers on horseback using aggressive tactics, including a police officer swinging long reins nearby. of migrants crossing the border near Del Rio.

"We saw some of the mistreatment these Haitians suffered and it shocked us a lot," Henry told CNN.

"What we are saying is that as long as there are countries that are better than others, there will always be an appeal to the richest."

Henry said: "We are not responsible for their deportation" and Haiti "cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the United States";

however, "all Haitians who return to their homeland have the right to be welcomed."

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Elections in Haiti postponed until 2022

Henry's two-month tenure has been plagued by ongoing questions about Moise's murder, escalating gang violence in the capital, a catastrophic August earthquake in the south of the country, and now a migration crisis that has led to thousands of people to the border with the United States.

Meanwhile, confusion increases when elections will take place in Haiti, postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Moise had planned to hold elections in September, but that date came and went under Henry's leadership.

And on Monday, the Haitian government issued a decree dismissing its entire Electoral Council, the group responsible for conducting the elections.

"The train has been derailed for some time in Haiti," Henry said.

"We want to move as quickly as possible towards the restoration of democracy through elections."

Henry said members of the Electoral Council were fired because they "cannot organize elections" and the process to replace them was underway.

"Today we have made the decision to stop this electoral council and form another one, one that is more consensual and that is accepted by all of society," he added.

Henry said the elections will take place after a review of the country's constitution: "We will review the constitution in the first months of next year and the elections will take place immediately afterward."

• "The presidential guard did not do their job, they did not defend Moïse," says former Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe

Moise murder investigation

Henry faces additional pressure over the official investigation into the murder of Moise, who was killed during an attack on his private residence on July 7, and has been accused of obstructing the investigation.

The ongoing investigation has found dozens of suspects, including US and Colombian citizens, but government officials continue to search for a mastermind and motive.

Former Port-au-Prince chief prosecutor Bed-Ford Claude had asked Henry to testify about the case, citing evidence that a key suspect in the murder spoke to him by phone in the hours after the murder.

Henry then fired Claude and Rockefeller Attorney General Vincent, raising questions about whether the executive was meddling with the judiciary.

Speaking to CNN, Henry denied preventing the investigation and said the couple was fired "for breaking the law."

"It is important for us that President Jovenel Moise has justice, it is fundamental for us and we are going to give all the means to justice so that justice is done," he said.

"We do not want to interfere in this trial ... I am not even asking to know what is happening in the case. What I am saying is that the president must have justice and this justice must be accompanied by independent judges."

Haitians who gave up crossing into the US set up camp in Mexico 0:46

Claude was fired while seeking charges against Henry for phone calls made hours after the murder of one of the main suspects, former Haitian Justice Ministry official Joseph Felix Badio.

Henry said he "did not remember" the phone call "or if it took place."

"That means that for me, it wasn't an important call, if I don't recall," he said.

"I have no interest in associating with these people and never have been and never will be."

Henry also said he would follow up with the Justice Ministry on allegations that dozens of U.S. and Colombian citizens remain in Haitian custody in connection with the murder, without charges being brought against them and with limited access to lawyers, in contravention. of Haitian law.

The situation has left human rights groups concerned about the lack of due process for detainees.

"I will ask the Ministry of Justice to follow up and if there are innocent people, to release them. We do not want to have people in jail just because they are Colombians or because they are being singled out as murderers and that they are not murderers." Henry said.

• Del Rio port of entry reopens in Texas after surge in migrants

Security fears

The prime minister admitted that he is concerned for his own safety and said that Moise died in his bed "because he was president of Haiti."

"One of the reasons why I think we need to know what happened that night is because I feel that I am also at risk," he said, adding that Moise has "the right to exemplary justice and I will make sure that this justice is exemplary. and honest ".

Henry admitted that he also needs foreign help to combat gang violence in the country and is determined to end criminal activity.

"We have asked friendly countries for specific support to support the police, the ability to fight these bandits and get out of public life, so that the economy recovers, so that our children can take care of their affairs on a regular basis", said.

Biden condemns border patrol that intimidated Haitian migrants 1:04

"All those who are involved with gangs, whether they are politicians, businessmen or other citizens, are bandits and must suffer the same fate as bandits."

CNN's Melissa Bell, Pierre Bairin and Mark Esplin reported from Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Helen Regan wrote from Hong Kong.

CNN's Caitlin Hu, Etant Dupain, Sharif Paget and Jennifer Deaton contributed to this report.