By The Western Journal (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:10:49 | Updated at 2024-10-30 07:31:11
3 weeks ago
Undocumented Haitians detained by immigration officials stand inside a police vehicle, in Dajabon, Dominican Republic, in a file photo from May 17. (Matias Delacroix / AP)
The Dominican Republic announced Wednesday that it will start massive deportations of Haitians living illegally in the country, expelling up to 10,000 of them a week.
Government spokesman Homero Figueroa told reporters that the government made the decision after noticing an “excess” of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
Figueroa said officials have seen an increase in Haitian migrants as a U.N.-backed mission in Haiti to fight gang violence flounders.
He said authorities also agreed to strengthen border surveillance and control, but he did not provide details.
Last year, the Dominican Republic deported more than 174,000 people it says are Haitians, and in the first half of the year, it expelled at least 67,000 more.
Activists have long criticized the administration of President Luis Abinader for what they say are ongoing human rights violations of Haitians and those of Haitian descent born in the Dominican Republic.
Abinader has denied any mistreatment.
Wednesday’s announcement comes a week after Abinader announced at the U.N. General Assembly that he would take “drastic measures” if the mission in Haiti fails.
This is Dominican President @luisabinader.
During his first term he built a border wall between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
During his second term he is carrying out mass deportations of illegals.
DR’s economy is the fastest growing in Latin America with 4.9% growth.… pic.twitter.com/il0FN4gJdf
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) October 3, 2024
It is led by nearly 400 police officers from Kenya, backed by nearly two dozen police and soldiers from Jamaica and two senior military officers from Belize.
Should the U.S. begin mass deportations?
The U.S. has warned that the mission lacks personnel and funding as it pushes for a U.N. peacekeeping mission instead.
Gangs in Haiti control 80 percent of the Port-au-Prince capital, and the violence has left nearly 700,000 Haitians homeless in recent years, while thousands of others have fled the country.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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