The security and social burden of Haiti continues to weigh heavily on the Dominican Republic. During the weekly La Semanal press conference on 7 July 2025, President Luis Abinader emphasized that the situation in Haiti has evolved beyond a simple migratory problem.
“The situation in Haiti is very special and that is why we have to take extraordinary actions to contain the migratory pressures,” said the President when addressing the concern of religious figures who are against deporting Haitian undocumented women who give birth here. The enactment of the measure has considerably reduced the surge in birthing tourism. Haitians receive free medical services here.
Just this past week, border patrols were once again on red alert as extreme gang violence killed dozens of people in a Haitian community near Dominican territory. Listin Diario reported on how very close to the border, the gang members decapitated and spread sheer terror in the community of Las Caobas, the border town near the provincial capital city Comendador, about an hour’s drive away.
There has always been concern the gangs would force a stampede of Haitians that would seek refuge in the Dominican Republic.
During the press conference, Minister of Defense Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre denied that Haitian gangs had crossed to Dominican territory after their intervention in Las Caobas. He said the border is in calm and trade flows.
Meanwhile, international media reported on the destruction of the iconic Oloffson gingerbread hotel in Haiti on the past Saturday to Sunday. The destruction is attributed to gang violence.
Read more:
El Dia
La Semanal 7 July 2025
NBC News
Listin Diario
Noticias SIN
8 July 2025