US representative Nancy Pelosi led a delegation of US legislators on a visit to President Danilo Medina and Dominican legislators on Thursday, 19 February 2015. Lobbying for the naturalization of Haitians as Dominicans was at the top of the agenda. In a press release, Pelosi’s office reported that discussions on the “the issue of Haitian immigration and citizenship for Dominicans of Haitian descent” were held with Minister of Foreign Affairs Andres Navarro. “The Foreign Minister described steps the Dominican Republic is taking to address this challenge. We also discussed trade, counter narcotics cooperation, climate change and other matters of mutual importance.”
In addition to meeting with Minister Navarro, the mission also met with Chamber of Deputies president Abel Martinez to discuss Haitian immigration. They also discussed agriculture and trade-related topics, alternative energy sources and bilateral and regional relations.
As reported in El Nacional, the purpose of the mission was to put pressure on the Dominican government to naturalize undocumented foreigners.
President Danilo Medina welcomed the US legislators at the Presidential Palace later that day. Again, discussions on Haitian immigration continued on Friday 20 February.
Abel Martinez told the US legislators that instead of putting pressure on the DR, they should help it meet the goals of regularizing migration.
Deputy Carlos Gabriel Garcia said that the mission was seeking an extension of the expiration of the regularization law.
The US legislators were accompanied by US Ambassador James Brewster.
The Democratic Leader and members of the House of Representatives delegation had traveled from Cuba where they held a meeting with Vice President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel. The mission also visited Haiti for discussions with President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Evans as part of its Caribbean tour.
http://www.democraticleader.gov/newsroom/pelosi-statement-meetings-president-dominican-republic-danilo-medina-senior-officials/