Dominican Republic rejects accusations of mistreatment of Haitian migrants at OAS session

Washington.- The Dominican Republic firmly denied allegations of mistreatment of undocumented Haitian immigrants during deportation operations at a recent Organization of American States (OAS) meeting. Radhafil Rodríguez, Minister Counselor of the Dominican Mission, stated on behalf of the government that while the accusations would be thoroughly investigated, they must be handled through bilateral channels. He emphasized that raising the issue in multilateral forums would not contribute to finding long-term solutions.

Rodríguez reiterated that the Dominican Republic cannot assume responsibilities beyond its capacity, especially considering the ongoing crisis in Haiti. He pointed out that a year after the establishment of the Multinational Mission to Support Security in Haiti (MSS), only a small contingent of 400 troops had been deployed, which is insufficient to address the security situation effectively. The Dominican government has thus implemented additional security measures, including tighter border controls and cracking down on human trafficking networks, to protect national security and combat smuggling mafias.

The Dominican delegation also presented data highlighting the impact of Haitian migration on its public services. In 2023, 35.9% of births in the country were to Haitian women, and around 146,000 Haitian minors were enrolled in the Dominican public education system, costing the government $430 million from 2022 to 2023. Rodríguez concluded that the Dominican Republic remains committed to respecting human rights but urged a bilateral approach for resolving these complex issues.