N Digital journalist Franklin Guerrero asked President Luis Abinader on Monday, 21 April 2025 the question thousands of Dominicans must have when watching all the videos the Migration Agency uploads showing how they red-handed catch many Haitian smugglers. Guerrero said that it is evident lots of the same people are being caught again and again smuggling more Haitians.
The Haitians caught attempting to enter illegally are just deported. They use the “revolving door” as Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez has called the ease of returning to the Dominican Republic after being deported. The government is aware of the networks that operate to smuggle the Haitians, but seemingly if and when these cases go to the judiciary, the smugglers are let off paying a fine that does not discourage their operations.
Almost every week, or several times a week, the Migration Agency catches one of those expensive SUVs with 15+ people tucked in every nook of the vehicle. The question in mind has always been: Why not hit the smugglers where it hurts, seizing the vehicles used for the smuggling? “Why are those vehicles not auctioned every two or four months to say help pay for the costs of policing all the migration?,” Guerrero asked the President.
The President said the government iss working on a solution. He spoke of a bill already submitted to Congress to reform the Migration Law. That same afternoon during the press conference, he delegated responding to his Migration Agency director, Vice Admiral Lee Ballester who kinda had an answer. “There are two mechanisms. When the person is taken to justice, the vehicle is presented as evidence. When the person is not sent to Justice because the person responsible for the vehicle has fled, the vehicle is retained at the Migration Agency. Depending on that when the person is sent to justice they are penalized and pay the penalty,” he said.
Apparently, the fines have been so low that it is part of the regular cost of doing business and the business has prospered with all the demand from Haitians in their desperation to access health and education services, and work not available to them in Haiti.
Vice Admiral Ballester also spoke about what recent investigations have revealed on what he calls “this complex problem.” “There are now companies, rent-a-cars, that are dedicated to rent a good number of the vehicles that are used for this purpose,” he explained during the press conference. He said in coordination with J2 of the Ministry of Defense they have an ongoing investigation. He says the rent-a-car can operate with only two vehicles. He said conversations have been had with Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso and prosecutor Bejaran (Yoanna) on the matter. Ballester said he shared these details so people can understand the level of efforts that are underway to attack irregular migration flows. “We will not desist until we obtain convictions that hurt so these can be exemplary for the criminals,” he said.
President Luis Abinader added that in the new bills sent to Congress there are actions to attack this issue. “Right now he says the accomplices get off saying they did not know anything. If we approve the bill, those accomplices may be arrested and have more efficient justice,” said the President.
Follow the story:
La Semanal 21 April 2025 – min 47:26
23 April 2025