Formerly known as the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum, The Light will welcome the public on Saturday, August 22, with a weekend of events for all ages and a programme for the remainder of the school holidays.

The site previously housed the collection of historic DLI artefacts but closed in 2016 as the building was no longer fit for purpose.

Curator, Charli Summers. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Northern Echo was invited to see a sneak peek of the venue today (August 20) as staff prepare to welcome guests back to the site.

Tony Guillan, creative director of The Light, described the venue as “a building rooted in history but built for the future.”

Tony Guillan, Artistic Director. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He said: “We’ve got a state-of-the-art facility, incredible new gallery spaces, so it’s really about investing in the endeavour as a sustainable, economic investment, so that we can stage world class exhibitions that people want to come and see.”

Tony, who is originally from Tyneside but has spent much of his career in London, added: “In the past few months, to be working with the team on the install, thinking about future programmes, it’s been mad, but it’s great to see people in the building.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I always thought it would be really nice to come back to my home region to do some of the wonderful, exciting things I’ve been doing.

“We’re underserved in the North East in terms of spaces and investment, so when I saw this, I knew this was the project for me.

“It’s very exciting.”

The museum’s first exhibitions are We Are The Durhams: The Durham Light Infantry Exhibition and Victory Over the Sun: Encounters with Light.

Gillian Kirkbride, Durham County Council’s heritage venues and collection manager, who put together the DLI exhibition, said: “We’ve gone for a thematic approach based on personal experiences.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“All of the stories here are about people, their emotions, the DLI family, the DLI community.

“There are stories we’ve never told before and this exhibition is trying to give you a little break in that idea of the idealised soldier who is just in a trench in the first world war wearing khaki.

“Actually, they’re so much more than that – they’re artists, musicians, astronomers.

“There’s an awful lot of brotherhood and camaraderie.

“There’s an awful lot of light to counteract the dark, which is what we’re trying to get through in this exhibition.”

Natasha Howes, who curated the Victory Over the Sun exhibition, said: “It is a privilege to curate the inaugural exhibition.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“We have 25 regional, national and international artists here.”

There will also be a range of events regularly held at The Light, including book clubs, concerts and workshops for all ages.

Councillor Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration, and high street, said: “It’s not every day you get to launch a venue as special as The Light, which is why we are pulling out all the stops to deliver an unforgettable opening weekend.

“As the former home of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Durham Art Gallery, we know people will be excited to see how the building has been transformed.”

On Saturday, Pittington Brass Band will perform outdoors, while The Cequin Circus will offer stilt walkers, fire-spinners, and dancers.

Sunday’s line-up includes music from North East singer-songwriters Steve Pledger, Ani Sandwith, Sam Slatcher, and Hels Pattison, as well as more circus performances.

There will also be science-themed lawn games, drop-in workshops, and the chance to contribute to an illuminated lantern sculpture.

There is a gift shop on-site selling lights, soaps, books and a café.

The venue’s gift shop. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The venue’s cafe. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The opening celebrations will continue into the final weeks of the summer holidays with daily art workshops for children aged eight and over, running from 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm.

The new venue will be a sister site to The Story at Mount Oswald, which provides the permanent home to the DLI collection.

Entry to The Light and the DLI exhibition is free.

Tickets for Victory Over the Sun are priced at £10 for adults and £2.50 for under-18s.

A season pass is available for £25.

On the opening weekend, parking at The Light will be reserved for Blue Badge holders.

Free parking for other visitors will be available at the County Hall car park, with signposted pedestrian access to the venue.

The closures, which affect sections of the M53, M67, M61, M56, M66 and M6, will be in place between 8pm and 6am, depending on the route.

National Highways said the following roads will be closed from 8pm until 6am:

• M53 southbound between Junctions 7 and 10
• M53 northbound between Junctions 5 and 4
• M67 eastbound between Junctions 3 and 4

The following closures will take place from 9pm until 6am:

A further closure will affect the M6 northbound between Junctions 27 and 28, with restrictions in place from 11pm until 6am.

Drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and follow signed diversion routes where necessary.

National Highways regularly carries out overnight closures to enable maintenance and improvement work to be completed while minimising disruption during peak traffic periods.

A Manchester woman has shared her underwhelming first experience of climbing Yr Wyddfa, as she claimed it “wasn’t worth it”. Aisha shared her story in a candid video

A woman who scaled Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) for the first time was left taken aback by the ordeal, and it’s not the first occasion the mountain has left visitors somewhat startled. Aisha, from Manchester, previously journeyed to Wales to tackle the climb, but it’s fair to say she was left disappointed by what unfolded.

The vlogger, who boasts over 60,000 followers on TikTok, described her video as a warning “not to go hiking”, suggesting she wouldn’t attempt it again following her Welsh escapade. She opted to take on Yr Wyddfa for enjoyment, but her expedition appeared to be far from enjoyable.

It’s not the first time such a story has been shared either. Previously, another walker was left underwhelmed after climbing a mountain in Wales.

Overlaying the video, she wrote: “‘Let’s go to Snowdon for a hike’, he said. ‘It’ll be fun’, he said.” The footage then depicts Aisha ascending the mountain in shorts, battling against the wind and rain, and numerous others have previously shared how the ascent has left them somewhat rattled as well.

What might astonish people is Aisha’s assertion that the view from the summit is “definitely not worth it”. Despite the splendour our nation has to offer, it appears some individuals believe the treks required to appreciate our picturesque landscapes can simply demand too much exertion.

The video has been watched hundreds of times since being posted, and dozens of viewers have commented as well. People were swift to commend Aisha for completing the hike.

One individual remarked: “I saw you yesterday coming down the Llanberis path. You smashed it down there. Well done!”

Another person said: “I did it yesterday – my legs are destroyed.” Aisha responded: “Same, even standing is painful.”

A third remarked: “Haha, I was literally crying, having a panic attack to turn back when I hiked with my boyfriend. He hated me.”

Meanwhile, a fourth enquired: “How long did it take you to complete? My husband and I are doing it on Saturday.”

In the comments section, Aisha confirmed the trek took them five hours altogether, admitting they were keen to “get out of there ASAP”. She pointed out that some walkers can take up to eight hours to finish, depending on how long they linger at the summit and rest.

Aisha advised: “You should definitely go. Just mentally prepare – it’s painful.” Others also acknowledged the challenge of the climb, though many appear to appreciate the spectacular views.

What you need to know

Yr Wyddfa is a mountain located in North Wales. Standing at 1,085 metres above sea level, it’s the tallest peak in Wales and the highest in the British Isles, south of the Scottish Highlands.

The mountain has been designated a national nature reserve due to its rare plant and animal life. Those wishing to visit will find it within Snowdonia National Park.

Several lakes can be found on the mountain, with Llyn Lydaw being the largest, positioned on the eastern side. Historically, the mountain has been described as the “busiest in the United Kingdom.”

In 2022, a remarkable 543,541 walkers were recorded making the ascent. There are six principal routes to the peak, with the most frequented beginning in the northern town of Llanberis.

Alternatively, visitors can reach the top via the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which transported 98,567 passengers in 2021 alone. It is an enormously popular mountain that draws thousands of visitors throughout the year.

During particularly busy periods, such as summer weekends, queues have been known to form at the summit of Yr Wyddfa for access to the summit pillar. This typically occurs at the steps leading to the trig point; however, it remains perfectly possible to appreciate the summit area without joining the queue.

Danny Cipriani and AnnaLynne McCord couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they passionately kissed at a family pre-wedding dinner at Katana in West Hollywood on Wednesday evening. 

The couple, who are set to wed this weekend, were all smiles as they put on a loved up display after previously setting up a ‘tacky and distasteful’ crowdfunding page to fund their big day. 

Yet the finances of the day looked far from their minds as the actress, 39, looked bridal-ready in a white strapless minidress which featured a large dramatic bow which cascaded down her back. 

She paired the dress with white sandals and styled her blonde locks in a high bun.

Meanwhile the former rugby star, 38, opted for a relaxed look in a black button-down shirt and loose dark striped trousers.

It was revealed last month that the former rugby star, 38, and his actress fiancée, 39, were requesting that family and friends pay for everything from the marriage licence to their reception meal. 

The couple, who are set to wed this weekend, were all smiles as they put on a loved up display after previously setting up a ‘tacky and distasteful’ crowdfunding page to fund their big day

The unorthodox approach, especially given their flash Hollywood lifestyle, has raised eyebrows that they are not willing to foot their wedding bill themselves.

The move has been branded ‘tacky and distasteful’ by insiders for ‘two celebrities who boast a lavish lifestyle’ as they bid to raise around £10,000 for their nuptials.

Danny is thought to have made around £4million during his rugby career, where he played for Wasps, Sale Sharks, Gloucester, Bath and Melbourne Rebels, as well as earning 16 England caps.

AnnaLynne is believed to have amassed a similar fortune, after making a name for herself in roles on Nip/Tuck and 90210 in the Noughties. Her most recent part was in Days of Our Lives, which was announced in 2023.

On their website, which has been created through the Honeyfund platform, the couple are asking people to donate anything from £75 ($100) to £450 ($600).

There are particular elements of the day they can put money towards, including flowers, their wedding cake and drinks for the reception.

The total amount that they have asked for comes to £10,660, not counting the separate cash donations section. 

An insider told The Sun: ‘It’s extremely tacky and distasteful to ask guests to pay for your wedding – especially in this town.

Yet the finances of the day looked far from their minds as they shared a passionate kiss ahead of tying the knot 

The actress, 39, looked bridal-ready in a white strapless mini dress which featured a large dramatic bow which cascaded down her back.

She paired the dress with white sandals and styled her blonde locks in a high bun

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Meanwhile the former rugby star, 38, opted for a relaxed look in a black button-down shirt and loose dark striped trousers

AnnaLynne and Danny first met on the dating app Raya around a decade ago. They dated on and off for several years and split in 2020, before reconnecting in 2024 

On their website, which has been created through the Honeyfund platform, the couple are asking people to donate anything from £75 ($100) to £450 ($600) 

‘These are two celebrities who boast a lavish lifestyle.’

A message on the website asked their guests to ‘help us create our dream wedding and honeymoon experience’.

It is unclear how much has been contributed so far, but there currently remain six slots left to donate £225 ($300) to the photography fund.

If not buying from the registry there is also the option to give cash from £7.50 ($10). 

AnnaLynne and Danny first met on the dating app Raya around a decade ago.

They dated on and off for several years and split in 2020, before reconnecting in 2024 – only to go their separate ways again in January 2025. 

However, despite their split, the pair appeared to be back on last summer when they shared a smooch at an Emmy nomination party hosted by The McCord List in July. 

In July last year, Danny also confirmed their reunion as he gushed over his girlfriend as he shared a sweet picture to Instagram to wish her a happy birthday.    

Alongside the snap, he penned: ‘Happy birthday to My Love. Your light shines so bright, as you see the light in everyone you meet. 

‘You give your heart so effortlessly. You are creating a world of unity and love with your star dust everywhere you go. Love you’ 

According to People, AnnaLynne’s ring is a 15-carat, emerald-cut diamond with seven round accent diamonds set in the band on each side, all in yellow gold.

Danny previously met ex-wife Victoria Rose in 2019 and they were engaged by August 2020. 

It is protected as a Grade B1 listed building and is one of the best-preserved examples of its type in the UK

A nuclear bunker built in South Belfast during the height of the Cold War is now home to one of Northern Ireland’s most important heritage collections.

The new archive facility for the Historic Environment Record of Northern Ireland (HERoNI) was opened this week at the former Belfast War Room in Mount Eden Park, Belfast.

The project secures the future of one of Northern Ireland’s most important heritage collections while giving new life to a significant Cold War landmark. Constructed in the early 1950s, the Northern Ireland Regional War Room was one of just 13 purpose-built Regional War Rooms established across the United Kingdom during the Cold War.

Designed to co-ordinate civil defence and regional government functions in the event of a nuclear attack, the building is recognised as one of the best-preserved examples of its type anywhere in the UK and is protected as a Grade B1 listed building.

The repurposed facility will provide a permanent, sustainable home for HERoNI, which documents more than 45,000 historic sites through maps, plans, records and photographs.

Opening the facility this week, communities minister Gordon Lyons said: “The opening of the HERoNI Archive Store represents an important new chapter in the history of the Belfast War Room, ensuring the continued preservation of both this remarkable historic building and the irreplaceable archive collections it now houses for the benefit of future generations.

“There is a unique relationship between the building’s original purpose and its new role. Once designed to safeguard government and society during a period of international uncertainty, the former Belfast War Room will now protect the records, knowledge and cultural memory that help future generations understand Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse heritage.

“This project demonstrates how our historic buildings can be adapted in innovative and sustainable ways, preserving not only the structures themselves but also the invaluable collections they can support.

“I would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the consultants, contractors and Department for Communities staff whose expertise and commitment made this innovative project possible.”

Documents included in the archive include records relating to more than 45,000 historic places, including archaeological sites, historic monuments and buildings, as well as industrial, marine and defence heritage sites. Its collections include drawings, maps, plans, documents and hundreds of thousands of photographs spanning all periods of Northern Ireland’s history.

The transformation of the War Room highlights the potential for the sustainable reuse of historic buildings. While the structure’s original design posed significant challenges for redevelopment, its distinctive features, including 1.5 metre-thick reinforced concrete walls, a windowless design and a network of small internal rooms, have proven highly suitable for archival storage.

These characteristics help maintain stable environmental conditions essential for the long-term preservation of sensitive historic records.

The building will be open for tours as part of European Heritage Days in September 2026.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A Swiss tourist has been sentenced to a year in prison in Bali for posting videos boasting that he had broken the rules of Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence, and calling the tradition crazy.

Luzian Andrin Zgraggen, 26, was convicted at the Denpasar district court on Thursday of insulting a religious observance under Indonesia‘s new criminal code. The court found he had made the posts after staff at the villa where he was staying explained the restrictions to him.

“What the defendant did offended the Balinese people, hurt their faith and provoked public outrage,” said presiding judge, Tjokorda Putra Budi Pastima, according to the Associated Press. “The defendant must be held accountable for his actions.”

Nyepi, marking the Balinese new year, fell on 19 March this year.

To observe the day, nobody leaves their home or accommodation for 24 hours, except in an emergency. The beaches and streets remain empty apart from patrols enforcing the silence. The island’s airport closes and the internet is switched off.

Entertainment is restricted, even the use of electricity is discouraged, and residents stock up on food beforehand so they can stay indoors. The rules apply to everyone on the island whatever their religion or nationality.

Mr Zgraggen filmed himself walking to an empty beach during the observance, smiling at the camera, and in one clip called the scene crazy while swearing in the caption. The video, since removed, was widely reshared and drew anger from Balinese residents. Police traced him after public complaints and arrested him in March at a villa in Legian, a tourist area near Kuta beach.

He told the court, in a trial that began in June, that he had never meant to insult the holiday or the Balinese people, and that he made the posts while hungry and frustrated at being unable to get food during the shutdown, without fully understanding how far the restrictions went.

“I deeply regret what I did, I apologise to the Balinese people,” he said in his defence plea, according to AP.

Tourists, both foreign and Indonesian, have been detained or deported before for going outside during Nyepi, but those cases were generally settled without prosecution.

Bali received a record seven million foreign visitors last year, well above its pre-pandemic numbers, and the return of mass tourism has brought complaints from residents about the behaviour of some of them. Foreigners have been penalised for offensive acts at religious sites, for flouting traffic laws and for setting up enclaves that exclude locals, and the authorities have promised tighter scrutiny of visitors and a crackdown on those who misbehave.

Bali is a predominantly Hindu island in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population of any country.

Here are our predictions for the new season (and yes, we actively encourage you to send them to us in a few weeks’ time when they look very silly):

“I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I knew it was the top half of my body that was really hurting.”

A headteacher who abseiled from the roof of Murrayfield Stadium to raise money for a lifesaving air ambulance was stunned when the very same service came to her rescue just four days later. Kat, 50, had taken part in Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance’s biggest-ever fundraising event in Edinburgh on May 16.

But could never have imagined she would soon find herself relying on the service she had helped support. Just four days after completing the challenge, the Turriff Academy deputy head was driving home near Banff when a campervan suddenly pulled out of a junction directly in front of her.

Kate was travelling at around 50mph along the A95 and the force of the collision flipped the campervan on its side. The front of Kate’s truck was badly crushed.

Kate was able to climb from her truck to safety and was relieved to see those in the campervan managed to get out safely, but she quickly realised she was in significant pain and needed to sit down. An off-duty newly qualified paramedic happened to be nearby and stopped to help, sitting in the back of Kate’s vehicle and holding her head steady.

She was suffering pain in her neck and chest and was unsure of the extent of her injuries. Kate said: “I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I knew it was the top half of my body that was really hurting.”

Police Scotland and ambulance crews arrived at the scene before Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) helicopter landed nearby. The specialist crew assessed Kate and carefully prepared her for the flight to hospital, as the extent of her injuries could not be established without a scan.

The teacher was transferred to the helicopter by a stretcher with a vacuum mattress to support her head. She was flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in just 15 minutes.

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It was only then that the remarkable coincidence of the previous few days really hit home. “I just couldn’t believe the irony of having to need the service I had just been fundraising for a few days before,” she said.

“I do endurance horse riding and I ride on my own a lot in very remote areas. I knew if I ever got into trouble that SCAA would be able to reach me when a land ambulance couldn’t.

“But I didn’t expect to have need of them for this type of incident.”

Once she arrived at hospital, the adrenaline began to wear off and Kate was given morphine to help manage her pain. A CT scan and further tests revealed she had suffered a fractured sternum and severe whiplash to her neck.

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Kate was able to return to work around a month later and soon got back on her horse, although she said her recovery took time and she has been left with anxiety when driving. She remains hugely grateful for the treatment she received – and says the speed of the helicopter made a huge difference given how far she lives from Aberdeen.

“The SCAA crew were calm, with a good sense of humour, and it was clear they knew what they were doing,” she said. “Everything was so quick and professional.

“Where we live it’s an hour on the road to Aberdeen…the difference a helicopter can make is massive.”

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Oasis have caused a ‘riot’ after they reportedly forced BBC bosses to take down a World Cup tribute video which featured celebrities singing the Gallagher brothers’ hit song Wonderwall. 

Featuring stars including Stephen Fry, Maya Jama, Claudia Winkleman and Micah Richards, the BBC had hoped the clip would go viral after the song became synonymous with England’s wins during the tournament. 

Some fans described the footage as ‘excruciating’ and likened it to a ‘car crash’ after catching a glimpse before the clip was taken down. 

And it has now been revealed that Liam and Noel Gallagher‘s legal team reportedly demanded its removal as the BBC hadn’t sought the correct permissions to use it on social media. 

A source said: ‘The BBC dropped an enormous ball with the Oasis video as it caused a riot.

‘BBC Sport saw all the traction Wonderwall was getting and decided to spend a lot of time, and a fair bit of cash, getting all these stars to sing or speak along. Their idea was it would go viral but instead Oasis’s legal team shot it down.’

They told The Sun: ‘Apparently the BBC didn’t seek the correct permissions to use the song on social media so they didn’t have a leg to stand on.’

Featuring stars including Maya Jama and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC had hoped the clip would go viral after the song became synonymous with England’s wins during the tournament

The project was a huge waste of time and money for the television company.  

BBC Sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski failed to save the video despite his attempts to fight Oasis’s demands to take it down. 

The video began with Micah singing the iconic lyrics before others including Sara Cox, Michael McIntyre, Emma Raducanu, Ross Kemp and Lee Mack also chimed in. 

Wonderwall became somewhat of an anthem during this year’s world cup, with England players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham encouraging the crowd to belt the lyrics after each win. 

The BBC declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail. Oasis’s representatives have been contacted.

The news comes just days after Oasis released the official trailer for their hotly anticipated Disney documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back In Anger.

Set to be released in cinemas worldwide on September 11, the film charts Liam and Noel’s triumphant reunion tour, Oasis Live ‘25, one of the most anticipated rock n roll comebacks of our time.

From the creator of Peaky Blinders Steven Knight, advance tickets for the documentary are now available to buy on Fandango.

As the trailer follows the build-up from the idea to reunite to the band taking to the stage, Noel admits: ‘I just don’t see myself on stage with Liam.

Some fans described the footage as ‘excruciating’ and likened it to a ‘car crash’ after catching a glimpse before the clip was taken down

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The video began with Micah Richards singing the iconic lyrics before others including Sara Cox, Michael McIntyre, Emma Radacanu, Ross Kemp and Lee Mack also chimed in

And it has now been revealed that Liam and Noel Gallagher’s legal team reportedly demanded its removal as the BBC hadn’t sought the correct permissions to use it on social media

The project was a huge waste of time and money for the television company 

‘I don’t really want to go back with the tension, will it fall apart again?’

As moments from the historic tour play out, he adds: ‘The songs are one thing, but I’d forgotten what he [Liam] means to people.

‘I certainly wasn’t prepared for the intense outpouring… a sense of what it meant to people.’

Later in the trailer, as the brothers walked on stage hand in hand, Liam adds: ‘We have got a chance to change the narrative of the band.’

The documentary features Liam and Noel’s first joint interview in over 20 years and is also set for release on Hulu and Disney+ in the US later this year.

The film is an unapologetically uplifting account of the biggest musical event of 2025, capturing the experience and emotions of the band and their fans across the world.

The unique perspective includes rehearsal, backstage and onstage access.

Alongside the band’s sold-out world tour, the film also explores the profound emotional impact of this phenomenal global cultural moment and what their music means to audiences and generations worldwide.

CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) — The U.S. deported more than 160 people to Haiti on Thursday for the first time since the Trump administration won a legal battle to end Temporary Protected Status for some 350,000 Haitians.

The plane landed in the northern Haitian city of Cap-Haitien because the main international airport in Port-au-Prince is considered too dangerous. The U.S. government currently has a ban on U.S. commercial flights to Haiti’s capital through early September because of ongoing gang violence.

The deportees were clad in white, and many covered their faces out of safety as journalists filmed their arrival. Nearly all declined to talk, with some fearing being targeted by gangs that control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince and swaths of land beyond.

The deportees included TPS holders and Haitians who had served prison sentences, said Jean Négot Bonheur Delva, director general of Haiti’s National Office of Migration.

“It is not the Haitian state that asks for them to be sent back,” he said. “Our mission is to welcome migrants of forced return. … We welcome them with the aim of accompanying them to their home.”

Deported Haitians search for a home

Delva noted that some of the deportees were not born in Haiti, although they are of Haitian descent.

He said that several deportees planned to travel to Haiti’s southern region, a dangerous journey because gangs control the main routes leading to that area and are known to randomly open fire on vehicles passing through.

Others are going to Haiti’s western region, he said.

“There is one migrant who knows nothing about Haiti because he said he was coming from the Dominican Republic; that’s where he was born,” Delva said.

He said the government would attempt to reunify him with any potential relatives in Haiti or the Dominican Republic, where his mother and father live.

Immigration officials in Haiti on Thursday offered deportees a maximum of $65 and something to drink and eat.

“Those who cannot reach their homes today, we will host them in secure spaces and the next day the process will continue until all migrants return home as they should,” Delva said.

Delva did not say how many of the 161 deportees were TPS holders who had been living and working legally in the U.S. since 2010.

Activists have warned that Haiti is currently too dangerous and doesn’t have enough resources to help those being deported to a country of nearly 12 million people, of which more than half need humanitarian assistance because of surging gang violence and deepening poverty, hunger and violence.

Gang violence already has displaced a record 1.5 million people across Haiti, where more than 3,100 people were reported killed from January to June and another 1,189 injured, according to U.N. statistics.

One deportee briefly spoke to The Associated Press as he arrived in Cap-Haitien. He identified himself as Jean Diane Louis and said he left Haiti when he was 5 years old. He said his family lives in New York City and that he was sentenced to 19 years in prison for an unspecified crime he asserted he did not commit.

“Then ICE came and took me without questioning me,” Louis said. “They just sent me here.”

As gang violence persists, Haitian migrants in the U.S. continue to be arrested and deported.

On Thursday, U.S. authorities arrested a popular Haitian pastor at a gas station in Springfield, Ohio, according to Springfield G92, a faith-based group supporting Haitian immigrants. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a second Haitian man who was with him.

The pastor, Gilbert Joubert Adrien, was being held by immigration authorities in Ohio, said Marjory Wentworth, a spokesperson for Springfield G92. She said ICE has been a heavy presence in recent days in Springfield, a city of about 60,000 people that gained attention when U.S. President Donald Trump said falsely during his 2024 campaign that Haitian residents there ate dogs.

Haiti’s Group Supporting Refugees and Returnees has decried the deportations.

“Haiti is not ready to receive this number of migrants who were in the TPS program,” it said in a statement Thursday.

The group noted that more than 140,000 Haitians have been deported from neighboring countries, including the Dominican Republic, in the first half of the year alone.

“We note that there are no government measures in place to adequately assist these migrants,” the group said.

It added that many of those deported “have seen their dreams go up in smoke; the bonds they had already made in their communities are broken. Many are experiencing family separation.”

The U.S. had conducted about one deportation flight to Haiti since December 2023, according to Human Rights First’s ICE Flight Monitor, which tracks flight data. Since December 2025, flights have originated in Alexandria, Louisiana, a hub for ICE deportation flights, with a stop in Miami on the way to Cap-Haitien International Airport.

___

Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.