The National Foreigner Legalization Plan started yesterday, Monday 2 June 2014 with free documentation procedures at 12 governor’s headquarters in 12 provinces and the National District as well as Central Electoral Board (JCE) offices. The plan is to make it easy and significantly reduce costs for residents in the Dominican Republic to get legal. The authorities have committed to resolve each case in 45 days. The government expects to legalize 500,000 undocumented residents.
In Santiago, only 12 people went the first day: six Haitians, two Chinese, two Mexicans, one Colombian and one Honduran. Office supervisor Amaury Duran said that many foreigners had come in with expired work visas.
The authorities hope that applicant numbers will gradually increase as word gets round about the process and people are reassured that their human rights will be respected.
International Affairs director at the Ministry of Interior and Police, Yeni de la Rosa, who is also responsible for supervising the process in Santiago and San Pedro de Macoris, told Listin Diario reporters that there was a low turnout at the legalization center on the first day because most potential beneficiaries do not know about the new facilities.
She said that applicants need to prove how long they have been in the country, their income and their place of work, as well as where they live. She added that there were many other requirements but not everyone had to comply with them all.
“This plan means progress because without a legal document I was condemned to poverty,” said Haitian pastor Fredery Honore, who started his legalization process.
In Barahona, very few people attended the center behind the Town Hall, according to the Listin.
Diario Libre reported the case of Haitian Joseph Pierre, 29 years old, who expects to make the most of the free service. He said he arrived illegally 13 years ago and works as a trader. “They asked many questions, for instance, where I live, if I have children, if I have a wife, if I am married, I was treated well,” he said.
Foreigners need to present an identity document from their country of origin in order to to start the process.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/6/2/324302/Plan-de-Regularizacion-comienza-en-Santiago-con-la-asistencia-de-pocos
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/6/2/324303/El-proceso-de-naturalizacion-inicia-muy-timido-en-Barahona
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/06/03/i637981_plan-regularizacin-inicia-con-baja-asistencia-pero-grupos-dan-visto-bueno.html
www.7dias.com.do/portada/2014/06/02/i165224_gobierno-garantiza-exito-ejecucion-plan-regularizacion-extranjeros-iniciado-hoy.html#.U43ySRZAcds