United States: Dimitri Vorbe Transferred to Mississippi Despite Court Order, Lawyers Decry Violation of the Law

Lawyers for Haitian businessman Dimitri Vorbe accuse U.S. immigration authorities of ignoring a federal judge’s order by transferring him from the Krome detention center in Florida to a facility in Mississippi. According to court filings, the transfer was carried out while a court order was in effect that explicitly barred moving Vorbe out of the Southern District of Florida while his petition challenging the legality of his detention was under review. His legal team is now asking the judge to sanction those responsible for what they call a flagrant violation of a federal order.

Held for several months by U.S. immigration authorities, Vorbe faces exceptional removal proceedings based on a rarely used provision of U.S. law that allows a foreign national to be deported when their presence is deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. The administration launched the proceedings on the recommendation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who accuses the Haitian businessman of having ties to armed groups operating in Haiti. Vorbe categorically denies the allegations and says he has no links to the criminal organizations cited by U.S. authorities.

To justify the transfer, immigration authorities say the Krome detention center had to be partially evacuated because of wildfires threatening the area. Vorbe’s defense, however, disputes that explanation. His lawyers say several other detainees were relocated to different facilities in Florida, while their client was sent to Mississippi without notice or court authorization. The case raises important questions about administrative authorities’ compliance with court rulings, the conditions in which migrants are detained and the use of exceptional powers in immigration and foreign policy in the United States.

Vorbe’s lawyers also argue that no public evidence has so far been presented to support the accusations against their client. They are seeking either his release or a prompt hearing to examine the legality and justification of his prolonged detention. The case continues to draw attention as the federal court must now rule on the legality of the transfer and on the defense’s requests.