Migration reports more than 250,000 immigration cases processed in 2026

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM) reported that it has processed 250,429 foreigners in an irregular immigration situation so far in 2026, including 186,139 deportations and 64,290 formal repatriations.

Of the deportees, 143,182 were men (76.92%) and 42,957 were women (23.08%), according to official DGM records. The procedures were carried out at processing centers and border checkpoints in coordination with military institutions and state security agencies.

The largest number of cases was recorded in Haina, with 74,948, followed by Dajabón with 67,308, Elías Piña with 29,155, and Santiago with 14,728.

Meanwhile, formal repatriations were mainly processed through Jimaní, with 30,603 cases, followed by Pedernales with 16,888, Dajabón with 8,514, and Elías Piña with 8,285.

The DGM said foreigners detained during nationwide immigration enforcement operations are transferred to designated processing centers, where they undergo registration and verification procedures.

Border controls strengthened

DGM Director General Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester said the agency is also strengthening controls over migration flows at binational markets along the border.

As part of the measures, a container office was installed at the Dajabón border crossing to enhance biometric registration through facial recognition technology for Haitian nationals authorized to enter the country during binational trade days.

Lee Ballester said the technological system is in its final evaluation phase and that equipment connected to a platform has been acquired to verify the identity of individuals seeking entry using artificial intelligence tools.

The official added that joint monitoring operations with civilian and military authorities are continuing to identify alternative routes allegedly used by networks involved in trafficking undocumented migrants to evade security controls along the border.