Amnesty International urges Dominican Republic to end health protocol tied to deportations

Santo Domingo.- Amnesty International renewed its call on Monday for the Dominican government to revoke a health protocol that links medical care for undocumented Haitians to deportation, labeling the measure as “unjustified” and “discriminatory.” The appeal was made during the virtual launch of the report “Health Without Stigma: The Impact of Migration Policies on the Right to Health in the Dominican Republic,” which examines how current migration policies are affecting access to healthcare for Haitian migrants.

The report is based on statistical analysis using public health data, UNICEF information, and interviews with health experts and Haitian patients who rely on public services. Amnesty International concluded that the protocol’s requirements—such as ID verification, proof of residence, employment letters, and post-treatment deportation—violate international human rights standards and discourage Haitians from seeking medical care. According to the organization, these policies reinforce racial stereotypes and fuel anti-Haitian narratives, undermining the right to health.

The protocol, implemented last April, allows undocumented patients to receive treatment but mandates their deportation once medically stable—an approach Amnesty argues could endanger public health and disproportionately harm vulnerable groups. The organization urged the government to eliminate the measure, halt detention and deportation of Haitians seeking medical care, and ensure that immigration status is not a barrier to accessing health services.