Great numbers of Haitian beggars have begun to appear on city streets corners in the DR. The Listin Diario reported that the cities of Santiago, Puerto Plata, La Vega, San Francisco de Macoris, Moca, Jarabacoa and Santo Domingo are experiencing an unusual influx of women with children (mostly not their own) at intersections in the cities. According to reports, in the past week hundreds of undocumented Haitians, mostly women and minors, have been posted on street corners by human traffickers with ties in Haiti. Listin Diario says that these mafias that operate the network of beggars are violating the DR’s Migration and public sanitation laws while they reap tidy profits appealing to those who feel especially charitable at Christmastime.
Coinciding with the appearance of the numerous beggars, Operation Cowboy was announced along the Haitian border in an effort to control cattle robberies and cross-border movement of stolen vehicles, arms, drugs and undocumented migrants. Last week, the military operation was responsible for the arrests of at least 300 undocumented Haitians, according to El Caribe.