DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Minister Roberto Alvarez / Listín Diario

Minister of Foreign Relations Roberto Alvarez addressed the media on the afternoon of 13 May 2026 to clarify the Dominican government’s motivations behind the recently signed Third Country National Agreement with the United States.

Following a wave of public inquiry, Alvarez emphasized that the bilateral cooperation, which facilitates the reception of foreign nationals with pending US deportation orders, is a product of a strategic partnership rather than external pressure.

Sovereignty and national securityAlvarez was emphatic in stating that as a sovereign nation, the Dominican Republic frequently receives requests from international partners, but retains the ultimate authority on whether to comply based on national interests.

“The Dominican government receives requests from all its partners. It does not receive pressure,” the Foreign...