The president of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) Roberto Rosario has told Diario Libre that the data being compiled from the implementation of the National Foreigner Legalization Plan will challenge the myth that most undocumented Haitians originally came to the country to cut sugar cane. The sugar cane cutters were contracted in agreements signed between the Dominican and Haitian governments. He said most applicants live in cities and came to work in construction, tourism and agriculture.
In an interview with the newspaper, Rosario said that during the first two months of the implementation of the 18-month plan, from June to August 2104, 55,638 foreigners requested legalization. He said the plan was going well, and in no way could be labelled a failure.
He said that there were many categories for foreigners to legalize their status n study visa, work visa, temporary residence permit, or permanent residence permit.
Rosario denied that the estimated 200,000-500,000 Haitians with irregular legal status living in the Dominican Republic were refugees as he says the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been promoting abroad. He said these people are “simply in an irregular documentation status.”
Meanwhile, the head of operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Andres Botero has called on foreigners with irregular status to take advantage of the National Legalization Plan through the Ministry of Interior and Police. He praised the advantages of the plan for undocumented foreigners during a talk organized by the Ministry of Interior and Police in Higuey. A large number of Haitian immigrants who originally came to work in the construction of major tourism resorts are living there after staying on in the country, as reported in El Dia.
http://www.diariolibre.com/destacada/2014/09/08/i781121_roberto-rosario-plan-regularizacin-xito-fracasado.html