The Dominican Republic plans to expel around 10,000 Haitians each week, claiming an 'overabundance' of migrants.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (AP) — The Dominican Republic declared its plan for substantial expulsions of unlawfully residing Haitians in the nation, potentially deporting up to 10,000 of them every week.
Government representative Homero Figueroa shared this information with journalists, citing an observed "surplus" of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
Figueroa explained that this decision was made due to a rise in Haitian migrants, with the UN-supported mission in Haiti aimed at combating gang violence struggling. He also mentioned plans to enhance border monitoring and control, although he did not specify the details.
In 2021 alone, the Dominican Republic reportedly sent back over 174,000 individuals they identify as Haitians, and in the first half of this year, at least 67,000 more have been expelled.
Critics have consistently accused the administration of President Luis Abinader of alleged human rights violations against Haitians and those of Haitian descent born in the Dominican Republic. Abinader has consistently denied any mistreatment.
This announcement was made a week after Abinader stated at the UN General Assembly that he would implement "severe measures" if the mission in Haiti was unsuccessful. This mission is headed by approximately 400 Kenyan police officers, backed by nearly two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica, and two senior military officers from Belize. The US has warned that the mission is understaffed and underfunded, advocating for a UN peacekeeping mission instead.
Gangs in Haiti currently control approximately 80% of the Port-au-Prince capital, and the ensuing violence has resulted in nearly 700,000 Haitians becoming homeless in recent years, with thousands more fleeing the country.
The Dominican Republic's expulsion plan is not just an issue within the Americas, but it has consequences that echo around the world, affecting the stability and safety of many Haitian refugees.
Despite the dominant presence of gangs in Port-au-Prince, causing widespread homelessness and prompting many Haitians to seek asylum in neighboring countries, including the Dominican Republic, international communities express concerns about the human rights implications of these expulsions.
