Dominican Republic to Deport Thousands of Haitians Weekly
The Dominican Republic announced Wednesday that it will begin massive deportations of Haitian migrants living illegally in the country, expelling up to 10,000 per week, CNN reports.
Government spokesman Homero Figueroa cited an “excess” of Haitian migrants as the reason for the move, attributing the surge to the struggling UN-backed mission in Haiti aimed at combating gang violence. Figueroa also announced plans to strengthen border surveillance and control, though details remained unclear.
This decision comes after a year of intense deportation efforts. The Dominican Republic deported over 174,000 people it identifies as Haitians in 2022, followed by an additional 67,000 expulsions in the first half of 2023.
Human rights activists have repeatedly condemned the Dominican government under President Luis Abinader for alleged human rights violations against Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. While Abinader has denied these accusations, the announcement has reignited concerns about the ongoing mistreatment of Haitian migrants.
The decision follows Abinader’s statement at the UN General Assembly last week, where he declared his intent to implement “drastic measures” if the UN mission in Haiti fails. The mission, led by nearly 400 Kenyan police officers and supported by Jamaican and Belizean personnel, faces challenges due to inadequate funding and personnel. The US has advocated for a UN peacekeeping mission instead.
The ongoing gang violence in Haiti, which has left nearly 700,000 people homeless and forced thousands to flee the country, continues to contribute to the influx of Haitian migrants into the Dominican Republic.
