DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

A growing number of Dominicans are choosing to return to their homeland. Over 3,000 have voluntarily repatriated so far this year, according to official figures.

El Nacional reports that many of those returning resided in the United States, Puerto Rico, Spain, and other European nations, often under irregular migration statuses. However, what is new is that a rising number of Dominicans who had held legal residency or citizenship abroad are also returning.

The majority of returnees told the El Nacional reporter they returned seeking a better quality of life and to escape the challenges faced as undocumented migrants. “We had to endure a lot of hardships and constant fear of being deported,” shared a group of women who returned from Panama. “We decided it was better to face any challenges at home rather than continue living in constant uncertainty.”

While some Dominicans reported fleeing economic hardship or political instability in their host countries, others simply...