While many do cross the border on foot, I don't believe they represent the bulk of them. The vast majority come in by the truckloads with the complicity of the military. BTW crossing on foot through those mountains is not as easy as you think...it's pretty rough terrain and long distances from any inhabitants.
This is totally untrue, the illegals that can't pay the fee at the boarder crossing find other ways. Now I'd like to share a story told to me by my Haitian gardener.
Michelle Dessalin, a Haitian national, tells me that he first arrived in Santiago in 1997, then he was only 14 years old. When he first crossed the boarder, his family made preparation to pay another Haitian to bring Michelle through the woods, he and about twenty other Haitian nationals walked all the way from Haiti to Santiago following the country side, sleeping by day and walking by night.
They walked from one "finca" to the other eating what ever they find on the way. He says these Haitians know the terrain very well, and they also know which "fincas" have the best eating. Remember most "fincas" on the DR side are manned by Haitians themselves.
I'm guessing the Haitian guide, has contact with the Haitian "finca" workers, this way when the illegals reach a certain "finca" they won't be disturbed by either the "finca" owner or authorities.
Anyhow this is how many get here, then from Santiago they are distributed to other parts of the country.
I digress, Michelle tells me when he first faced deportation some five years after being in Santiago, he found himself in Haiti again, he called his family and again they got someone to bring him back to Santiago. This time though he was much older and was determined to learn the route back to Santiago.
By his second deportation Michelle already knowing the terrain, decided to get back on his own. He gathered a few Haitians who never been across but wanted to come across, he then charged them a fee and he led them to Santiago.
Now it turns out when ever he is captured and deported, he walks back with a few of his fiends, him always leading the way and also charging the others a small fee. He also says on the way back he's found other groups of Haitian en route to Santiago.
So you see Suarenz, those mountains aren't as difficult as you think. It's not like they are crossing from Mexico to the US, where they have to cross a desert. On the DR side, the mountains are fertile and they sustain life, so please don't say this is not how most cross.
I really hope The Viccinis and others do mechanize their operation...but understand something. The government doesn't TELL people like them what to do, THEY tell the government...
Hogwash, "El Senado" is above anyone and all, this includes the Viccinis. The senate passes laws and whoever doesn't abide by them goes to jail. As I said earlier, the Viccinis have there days numbered as well.
