The Dominican Republic government has reaffirmed its commitment to deport 10,000 undocumented migrants per week, directly contradicting recent claims by Haitian Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy, Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful points out.
Haiti’s Dupuy had previously stated that Haiti had secured a reduction in deportations through international diplomacy and solidarity. However, Dominican Interior and Police Minister Raful vehemently denied these assertions, labeling them as false and an attempt to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
“We categorically deny any claims about a supposed reduction in repatriations at the request of Haiti,” Raful stated in a series of posts on social media platform X. “Migratory policy is a sovereign right of every state. No country or international organization has the authority to interfere in the internal decisions of the Dominican Republic.”
Raful emphasized that the Dominican Republic will continue with its repatriation plan, deporting 10,000 undocumented migrants weekly. Since 2 October 2024, the country has repatriated 60,961 individuals as part of this ongoing effort, said the Minister.
The Dominican Republic for years has served as an escape valve for Haiti for decades under a multidimensional crisis. When recent efforts to secure foreign funding to combat the gang violence have failed, the Dominican Republic has begun to take measures to ensure local security and stay the mass migration that seeks jobs and social services that are not available in Haiti.
The minister’s statement comes as a direct response to international pressure and criticism regarding the Dominican Republic’s mass deportation policy, which has been widely condemned by human rights organizations.
The Dominican Republic and Haiti share a 391 km border with gates and walls at points less than 50 kms long. On market days, Haitians are allowed to cross unchecked through major border gates. There is no control over who returns to Haiti on the market days.
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6 November 2024