The Central Electoral Board (JCE) says that in 2018, 18,843 children born to foreigners who are not legal residents were registered in the Foreigners Book (Libro de Extranjeria) that is available at hospitals in the Dominican Republic. This is 3,162 more than the 15,681 that were registered in the same books in 2017. In past years, 80% of those registered were born to Haitian mothers.
Nevertheless, a report by the National Health Service (SNS) reveals that as of 13 December 2018, of 12,788 births to foreigners from January to October 2018, only 6,690 had been inscribed in the Libro de Extranjeria of the different hospitals. The registration requires that the mothers inscribe their children. The mothers then receive documentation that is proof that the child was born in the Dominican Republic.
“The Central Electoral Board considers this fact of underreporting as the exclusive responsibility of foreign mothers,” says the institution, responding to inquiries made by the Listin Diario. The Libro de Extranjeria was incorporated in 2007 in compliance with General Migration Law 284-04. The JCE says that from October 2007 through 2016, 45,127 births of non-resident foreign mothers in Dominican territory were registered.
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Listin Diario
15 January 2019
