The Dominican Republic authorities have not been available for comment on whether the country will sign the 2018 the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in during the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration scheduled to take place in Marrakesh, Morocco on the 10th and 11th of December. The Global Compact is being promoted as the link between migration and development policies.
Nevertheless, the United States, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic and Australia have said they will not sign the compact, citing that entering into the compact would create serious problems for their national security. The Dominican Republic has a major national security problem with migration pressures at the border with Haiti.
The agreement would commit the Dominican Republic to not return to their country of origin thousands of illegal migrants, aspiring refugees, long-term residents and laborers who at present do not qualify under the Dominican Migration Law. The Global Compact is due to be ratified by UN member states in December for its implementation beginning in 2019. It includes a compromise on return, readmission and reintegration of the illegal immigrants.
The Dominican Republic is at present the most affected country by the political and economic instability in neighboring Haiti. As per Dominican Migration Law, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Haitians have been provided with work permits.
In recent days, migration issues have been hotly debated in the country, including the government’s recent granting of residence to Cuban drug kingpin Willie Falcon. The pre-clearance US Customs agreement amendment that would oblige the country to admit to Dominican territory individuals arriving by air to Punta Cana who are not eligible to enter the United States. Both controversial matters have been requested by US agencies to the Dominican government.
The final draft can be read at:
Migration Data Portal
Read more:
United Nations
Migration Policy
United Nations
United Nations
29 November 2018
