Dominican Republic Intensifies Deportations Amid Unrest in Haiti

The Dominican Republic has announced plans to deport up to 10,000 undocumented migrants each week in an effort to address what it terms as uncontrolled migration, primarily from Haiti. This decision was communicated by President Luis Abinader’s spokesperson, Homero Figueroa, who attributed the move to the international community’s sluggish response to the escalating gang violence in neighboring Haiti and the subsequent lack of stability.

Since the surge in gang-related violence in Haiti, many Haitians have sought refuge in the Dominican Republic. President Abinader’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of Haitian migrants, many of whom are fleeing from extreme conditions, including violence and poverty in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. However, Figueroa assured that the deportations would adhere to strict protocols safeguarding human rights.

Indicative of the potential increase in deportations, Figueroa remarked that the Dominican Republic would continue to intensify its border controls and surveillance. According to government data, these actions could see the highest number of deportations of undocumented Haitians in recent history, reaching figures of up to 10,000 per week, which marks a substantial increase from current levels.

During a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Abinader underscored his government’s readiness to implement “drastic measures” in response to the humanitarian crises in Haiti, expressing disappointment with international efforts to stabilize the region. A security force led by Kenya, comprising approximately 400 officers, has been deployed in Haiti, yet gang dominance in the capital persists, alongside critical issues such as food insecurity and lack of medical care.

The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the Dominican Republic forcibly returned over 200,000 individuals to Haiti last year alone. Human rights organizations estimate that at least half a million Haitians currently reside in the Dominican Republic, where activists argue that mass deportations endanger many lives.

At the Organization of American States, Haitian permanent representative Gandy Thomas criticized the Dominican Republic’s actions as “a strategy of ethnic cleansing” and called for dialogue to find a “respectful solution.” Amidst reports of extortion and abuse during deportations, Dominican officials, including OAS adviser Radhafil Rodríguez, rejected accusations of mistreatment but affirmed their commitment to investigating claims.

The unfolding situation has also led to an increase in abandoned children, according to William Charpentier, coordinator of the National Coalition for Migrations and Refugees in the Dominican Republic, who described the deportations as discriminatory against Haitian nationals. The Dominican government maintains that the deportations are carried out with human rights in mind, while critics continue to voice concerns over the potential humanitarian impact on the deported migrants.