Image Credit: Joseph Odelyn/The Associated Press

Port-au-Prince, December 7 (RHC)-- In Haiti, another three of the 17 North American missionary hostages taken in October have been released. 

Christian Aid Ministries says the three freed members are safe and “in good spirits.”  

A Haitian gang claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and had threatened to kill the hostages if their ransom was not paid. 12 people remain in captivity. 

In other news from Haiti, internal documents have revealed the U.S. Homeland Security Department’s civil rights office in late August advised immigration and border enforcement officials not to mass deport Haitian asylum seekers, warning the expulsions could be a violation of U.S. civil and human rights obligations. 

That’s according to BuzzFeed, which reports the civil rights officers were ultimately ignored.  Since September, advocates estimate the Biden administration has deported some 9,200 Haitians—setting off condemnation from even UN human rights officials.