The Dominican Republic makes news whenever it steps up the deporting of undocumented persons to Haiti. The Haitians cross the nearly 400 km border looking to survive violence, lack of social services and jobs in Haiti. A very small percentage is picked up by the Migration Agency (DGM) for irregular status here and returned by land to Haiti.
Accusations of discrimination and human rights violations abound from US sources, with those so critical ignoring that the United States deports tens of thousands of Haitians, and other nationalities, every month. DR Migration Law 285-04 states the conditions and requirements for carrying out the deportation of any person. The law also states that conditions such as mental or infectious disease or something else equally limiting a person from functioning properly in Dominican territory are grounds for deportation. Ties to illegal activities are also on the list for rejection, as well as criminal convictions or ties to terrorist groups. Nevertheless, anyone who has been married to a Dominican citizen for 10 years or who have children born and legally declared in the DR, are not subject to deportation. The law also provides protection for the family group.
While the spotlight is on the Dominican Republic, the United States continues to promptly deport any Haitians that reach their coastal waters or shores. The Miami Herald reported on a recent deporting of 190 Haitians in Florida, including 46 children. The Miami Herald story reports: “This is obscene,’ said Gepsie Metellus, executive director of the Sant La Neighborhood Center in North Miami. ‘At this point and time, the United States has been talking about how the Dominican Republic should not be repatriating Haitians; How are they looking for solutions because Haiti has a hellish situation and now they want to give people back? ‘We are not going to forget this,’ she added.”
Bahamas continues to deport Haitians from its shores, but has managed to keep a low profile.
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Miami Herald
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Diario Libre
CEJIL
28 November 2022