Former Haitian ombudsman Renan Hédouville deported to Haiti alongside 78 others
Sep 4, 2026·Location: Montgomery, AL
Country of origin: Haiti

Renan Hédouville, a lawyer, human-rights advocate and former head of Haiti's Office of Citizen Protection (ombudsman), was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, on August 25 while attempting to update his immigration status, after Haitian authorities issued warrants accusing him of embezzling nearly $130,000 in public funds. An investigation by Haiti's Anti-Corruption Unit alleges he billed for ten fictitious business trips and funneled payments to his daughter and chief of staff, Régine Hédouville, and his son-in-law, Tex Willer Célafoi Louis, among other irregularities; Hédouville had sued the anti-corruption unit and declined to cooperate with investigators. He requested voluntary deportation and was among 79 Haitians sent back on a flight that departed Alexandria, Louisiana, on September 3, one of three such flights since the Trump administration ended temporary protected status for more than 300,000 Haitians.
Sources
- US sends another deportation flight to Haiti, this one with former Haitian official on board | Jefferson City News
newstribune.com·Sep 4, 2026·archived copy
- Miami Herald
- fakta.co
- Haitian official detained by ICE in Pickens County gets deported…
1819news.com·Sep 8, 2026
- Former official wanted in Haiti corruption case in ICE custody | BREAKING NEWS – CONVEN.ORG | HOME
More incidents in Alabama
- Honduran teen with Special Immigrant Juvenile status held in ICE detention over 200 daysOct 5, 2026 · Albertville, AL
- US citizen construction worker detained repeatedly by ICE despite valid Alabama ID, sues DHSSep 21, 2026 · Foley, AL
- ICE arrests 13, including 10 Haitians, in Marshall County sweepSep 16, 2026 · Albertville, AL
- Alabama teen deported to Guatemala weeks after high school graduationAug 9, 2026 · Littleville, AL
- Man detained for a year as material witness stays jailed despite release order, later held by ICEJul 31, 2026 · Montgomery, AL
- Army sergeant's wife detained at green card interview, family separatedJul 8, 2026 · Montgomery, AL