In the early hours, a group of around 500 Haitian deportees emerged from buses and trucks, navigating a narrow opening in the border gate that separates Haiti from the Dominican Republic. These individuals, some still in their work attire and others barefoot, lined up for food, water, and medical assistance in the Haitian border town of Belladère as they contemplated their next steps.
Under the sweltering sun, the migrants recounted their experiences of escalating mistreatment by Dominican authorities. This follows President Luis Abinader’s directive in October to deport at least 10,000 immigrants weekly under a stringent new policy that has faced widespread criticism from civil rights organizations.
Reports of human rights abuses, including unauthorized home invasions, racial profiling, and the deportation of breastfeeding mothers and unaccompanied minors, have surged as deportations to Haiti increase. Last year, over a quarter of a million individuals were deported, with more than 31,200 deported in just January.
Despite the crackdown, many Haitians continue to re-enter the Dominican Republic, highlighting systemic issues. Dominican officials contend that Haitian immigrants are straining the country’s public services, citing the enrollment of over 80,000 new Haitian students in public schools over the last four years. Health officials indicate that Haitian women represent up to 70% of the births in the nation, imposing significant costs on the government.
In response to the perceived influx of undocumented immigrants, the Dominican Republic is deploying additional migration officials to manage the situation, labeling these immigrants as a burden and a risk to national security.
While the Dominican government has denied allegations of abuse, it has acknowledged that officials may enter homes “during a hot pursuit” and that personnel are undergoing retraining to uphold human rights commitments. The government maintains that it does not deport unaccompanied minors and has implemented measures to separate women and children from men during deportations. However, reports emerged in late January of five teenagers being deported without their parents.
According to UNICEF, last year the Dominican Republic deported 1,099 unaccompanied children, with 786 being reunited with their families. Many deportees were born in the Dominican Republic but lack the necessary birth certificates or documentation to prove their legal status, leading activists to accuse the government of allowing work permits to lapse or failing to process their applications. Notably, the Dominican Republic does not automatically grant citizenship to individuals born within its borders.
As mass deportations persist, employers in the agriculture and construction sectors have voiced concerns, prompting the government to respond by hiring Dominican workers.
President Luis Abinader has warned that the situation in Haiti poses a regional threat, cautioning of a potential “uncontrollable wave of migration,” and has called for increased support for a U.N.-backed mission in Haiti struggling against gang violence.
