Laurel Police Compiled List of Haitian Immigrants’ Addresses and Shared It With FBI

A local police department in Sussex County, Delaware, documented locations associated with Haitian immigrants and forwarded the information to federal authorities, raising civil liberties and profiling concerns.

By: Haitian Prime News Staf||January 17, 2026|Laurel, Delaware

A police department in Laurel, a small town in Sussex County, Delaware, compiled a list of addresses and locations associated with Haitian immigrants and shared that information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to documents and reporting published this week.

The list, created by the Laurel Police Department, reportedly included addresses where officers said they had encountered both documented and undocumented Haitian immigrants. The information was transmitted to federal officials last year. Portions of the document shown publicly were redacted, concealing specific addresses and names.

According to the reporting, the list did not appear to be tied to a specific criminal investigation, warrant, or public safety threat. Instead, it focused on locations where officers believed Haitian immigrants “spend their time,” a characterization that has drawn scrutiny from civil rights advocates and immigration experts.

The action has been described as unusual and potentially unprecedented within Delaware, as local police departments are generally not tasked with compiling immigration-related intelligence based on nationality or ethnicity. Federal immigration enforcement typically falls under the jurisdiction of agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), not municipal police forces.

Legal analysts note that creating and sharing lists based on national origin could raise constitutional questions, particularly related to equal protection under the law and prohibitions against racial or ethnic profiling. Community advocates also warn that such practices can undermine trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, making residents less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police.

Haitian immigrants in the United States include individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum seekers, lawful permanent residents, and U.S. citizens of Haitian descent. Advocates emphasize that immigration status varies widely and should not be presumed based on nationality.

As of publication, Laurel police officials and the FBI have not publicly detailed the legal justification, purpose, or scope of the information-sharing. Requests for clarification regarding departmental policy and oversight remain ongoing.

The incident comes amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement, local–federal law enforcement cooperation, and the protection of civil rights for immigrant communities.

Sources

• Original reporting by José Ignacio Castañeda Perez, published January 16, 2026