For decades, for a fee, Haitians could buy a “place” in a SUV or vehicle that promised to get them to a city or destination in the Dominican Republic, bypassing military checkpoints. The vehicles would be impressively packed. A vehicle made for six persons would be packed with 16+. There were people under people, and people in the trunk of the car. Most Haitians are skinny, so more people fit than the usual.
Diario Libre shares a video showing several recent instances of the Army detaining the people smugglers and the smuggled Haitians getting out of the vehicles. It reports at least 500 smuggling instances were stopped.
The people smuggling crackdown came after the Minister of Defense, chief of the Army, Migration Agency director and Minister of Interior & Police were changed with the start of the second term of President Luis Abinader.
What is newsworthy is that the people smugglers are being brought to justice to stand trial. Diario Libre reports that the cases involve military personnel, police officers, and even representatives of civil society.
Diario Libre explains that last October, a court in Comendador, in the province of Elías Piña, issued three months of preventive detention for three military officers accused of receiving money in exchange for allowing undocumented Haitians to enter the Dominican Republic. They were caught by an aerial surveillance vehicle while transporting Haitians without visas into the country in exchange for cash.
This November 2024, an additional nine people have been brought to justice for allegedly engaging in human trafficking and smuggling activities in Elías Piña, Montecristi, Valverde, and Dajabón.
It was reported that in the first 15 days of November, 15,500 foreigners have been repatriated.
Those who are caught attempting to enter without legal documentation are deported. Most of these, nevertheless, will later find ways to return through the 390 km long border.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
El Dia
28 November 2024