Smaller
BiggerHipólito Mejía criticizes mass deportations of Haitians
Santo Domingo.- Former President Hipólito Mejía voiced his opposition to the mass deportations of undocumented Haitians by the Dominican government, which has led to over 40,000 deportations and aims to repatriate up to 10,000 migrants weekly. Mejía recalled past policies under President Joaquín Balaguer, who implemented permit systems for Haitian laborers in the sugar industry, suggesting a similar approach could be beneficial. Highlighting the importance of Haitian labor to sectors like agriculture and construction, Mejía stressed that while the Dominican Republic cannot bear the burden of Haiti’s issues, international players like the U.S., France, and Canada should share responsibility.
Despite his call for a less confrontational approach, Mejía affirmed that immigration policy is a sovereign Dominican right. The Dominican government also recently refuted claims of decreased deportations, following statements by Haitian Foreign Minister Dominique Dupuy.
His suggestion to implement a permit system, a compromise, is far better than deporting the undocumented Haitians. Like it or not, they are vital to the economy. Agriculture and construction sectors will take the hardest hits from mass deportations. The public is upset with prices now, just think of the economic chaos caused by the lack of non-foreign laborers needed to replace the mass of deported Haitians. Deportations will drive prices out of sight, drain pocketbooks. Those people pushing the immigration policy ought to be careful of what they ask for.
I personally think we’ve gotten so used to seeing Haitians around, working and seeing them everywhere, that some people feel obligated to help just because they’ve become part of the daily landscape. But it’s time we break out of that mindset. Block by block, we can focus on solutions that prioritize our national interests while addressing this issue practically. Supporting a structured, fair permit system makes more sense than just reacting emotionally to the situation.