The US Department of State has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Haiti due to widespread crime, including kidnapping, sexual assault, murder, and ransom demands.

The advisory highlights the country's deteriorating security situation, which has worsened since March when thousands of inmates escaped from two of Haiti's largest prisons after armed gangs stormed the facilities. Haiti has been under a state of emergency since then.

The State Department has urged US citizens to avoid travel to Haiti, citing rampant crime, civil unrest, and a severely limited healthcare system. Kidnappings are particularly rampant, with US citizens among the victims, and some have been injured or killed.

“Protests, demonstrations, and roadblocks are common and unpredictable. They often damage or destroy infrastructure and can become violent. Mob killings and assaults by the public have increased, including targeting those suspected of committing crimes,” the State Department said.

Due to the increasing danger, the US government's ability to assist citizens in Haiti is severely limited. Local police also lack the resources to respond to emergencies effectively within the country.

This advisory comes amidst a significant increase in Haitian migrants entering the US through the Biden administration’s “parole program,” which allows migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to enter if they have a sponsor. The program, known as CHNV, permits up to 30,000 migrants per month to gain entry.

Although it was temporarily paused last August due to fraudulent applications, this program has since resumed. Additionally, the administration has extended "Temporary Protected Status" for Haitian migrants who have entered the country illegally due to Haiti’s instability.

Haitian migrants have also been in the news as of late due to the situation in Springfield, Ohio, where the small city of 60,000 has been flooded with 20,000 Haitian illegal immigrants that have placed a strain on resources.