Haitian man who went viral during January 2025 ICE arrest deported to Haiti after 19 months in federal custody
Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles, a Haitian national with gang ties, was deported to Haiti on an ICE flight originating in Louisiana. Charles had been in federal custody for approximately 19 months following his arrest in Massachusetts on January 22, 2025, during which Fox News cameras captured him saying "I'm not going back to Haiti" and "Biden forever." The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the deportation and identified Charles as a member of the Back Block Money Gang with 17 criminal convictions.
Single source · Not corroborated
Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers in Massachusetts on January 22, 2025, just days after President Trump returned to office. Fox News cameras were present during the arrest and captured Charles making statements that subsequently went viral, including "I'm not going back to Haiti … you feel me?" and "Biden forever bro."
Charles remained in federal custody while his immigration case proceeded. A Department of Justice immigration judge issued a final order of removal on November 7, 2025, according to the Department of Homeland Security. He was deported on a flight to Haiti on Thursday, September 10, 2026, completing approximately 19 months in federal custody.
According to DHS, Charles originally received Temporary Protected Status during the Obama administration in February 2013 and was admitted to the United States in July of that year. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services terminated his TPS in July 2022. DHS identified his criminal history as including 17 convictions, among them assault and battery on a public employee, resisting arrest, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.