Migration to suspend Haitian repatriations for Christmas Truce

Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) has announced a suspension of repatriations of undocumented Haitians on December 31 and January 1, citing the traditional year-end festivities. Julio Caraballo, the agency’s communications director, referred to this pause as a “Christmas truce,” a customary gesture observed annually during the holiday season.

This decision comes as Haiti faces a worsening crisis marked by rampant gang violence that remains unchecked despite the presence of a multinational security force led by Kenya. The unrest underscores the broader challenges in stabilizing the nation, even with international intervention.

From January 1 to December 23, the DGM reported repatriating 237,804 Haitians lacking proper documentation, compared to 174,602 in 2023. President Luis Abinader aims to repatriate 10,000 undocumented Haitians weekly as part of a broader strategy to address irregular immigration and safeguard national sovereignty. The president has criticized the slow progress of international efforts to support Haiti’s National Police, reinforcing the urgency of the government’s migration policies.