White House: FBI, Homeland Security officials to Haiti 'as soon as possible,' after assassination

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated overnight Wednesday.

Published: July 9, 2021 3:58pm

Updated: July 9, 2021 5:16pm

The U.S. will send FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials to Haiti to help the struggling county after President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated earlier in the week, the White House said Friday.

"In response to the Haitian government's request for security and investigative assistance, we will be sending senior FBI and DHS officials to Port-au-Prince as soon as possible to assess the situation and how we may be able to assist," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki, according to Fox News.

Psaki did not say how many officials will travel to the country or when they will leave.

The U.S. is also sending a shipment of coronavirus vaccines and $5 million to the Haitian National Police to combat gang violence. Haitians will be given a Temporary Protected Status for 18 months to allow individuals to flee the country.

Haitian officials have already apprehended six men in connection to the assassination, two of whom are Haitian-Americans.