The Specialized Corps of Frontier Security (Cesfront), together with members of the Dominican Army, arrested hundreds of undocumented Haitians over the past few days at the border with Haiti and in border towns. The arrests were said to be part of the operation “Military Cordon” in the area. The operation seeks to counter the increase in migration due to the lack of political and social stability in Haiti. Haiti is affected by a market deficiency in supplies of fuel and basic staples. The protesters call for the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
The two military entities reported arrests were made of people “scurrying through the bushes” to reach places such as Santiago de los Caballeros, Puerto Plata or Santo Domingo where there are jobs available. The persons arrested were turned over to the Migration Agency (DGM) for processing.
Neither the Cesfront or the Army provided reporters with precise numbers, yet the reports were consistently of “hundreds” of persons.
The commanding general of the Dominican Army, Major General Estanislao Gonel Regalado, noted that the 9,100 members of the different units are stationed along the border in Dajabón, Jimaní, Pedernales and Elias Piña.
Several Haitians interviewed by reporters from the Listin Diario said that in their country there was nothing to do. One woman said that she has a small business making candies, but she lost everything. Another person asked the officers not to return them to Haiti because they owed money to loan sharks and the consequences of non-payment were drastic.
Still several women, obviously very pregnant, said that they wanted to have their babies in the Dominican Republic because the hospitals in Haiti “don’t have anything and here the hospitals have everything needed to have a baby.” They also noted that in the Dominican Republic there is no charge for giving birth in a public hospital.
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Listin Diario
2 December 2019