Dominican Republic builds Haiti border fence to curb smuggling
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic Government has begun construction of 14.5 kilometers of perimeter fence along its southern border with Haiti – which will include six watchtowers, 35 culverts, and a total height of 13 feet (3.9 meters) – to improve border security and strengthen the fight against smuggling, the Dominican Ministry of Defense announced Saturday.
The construction will take place in Hoya de Enriquillo, Independencia province (in the south of the country), one of the “most important” points on the border with Haiti, which, for decades, has posed a challenge for the authorities due to attempts at the irregular trafficking of goods, the ministry detailed in a statement.
In that province, where one of the main binational markets operates, the new infrastructure will strengthen the fight against smuggling and other illicit activities, while “contributing to a more organized, safe, and legally compliant trade exchange,” the ministry says.
According to the text, the building will also include patrol lanes with a combined width of seven meters, distributed on both sides of the structure, intended to increase surveillance, improve the mobility of military units, and facilitate a “faster and more effective” response to any situation that may affect security in this part of the border.
“Strong Border” Plan
This work is part of the second stage of the construction of the border perimeter fence, of which sections with similar characteristics have been built previously in the province of Jimaní and which is part of the “Strong Border” project, an “integral” strategy developed by the Dominican Government to strengthen the security, infrastructure and development of the border area, the statement adds.
According to the Ministry, the plan integrates military presence, infrastructure, technology, surveillance, mobility, and inter-institutional coordination, with the goal of ensuring “effective and permanent” control of Dominican territory and “generating better conditions for border communities.”
As part of this plan, some 55 kilometers of fence have been built, of which 38 correspond to the northern border, in addition to sections in Elías Piña (center), Independencia (south) and Pedernales (south).
According to the Dominican Minister of Defense, Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, the “Strong Border” project includes 1,500 solar lights, fiber optics, smart cameras, and a drone network operated from the control center of the ministry he heads.
This infrastructure is complemented by some 11,000 military personnel deployed along the various lines of defense, along with equipment to reinforce surveillance and patrolling efforts, the document states.
Since October 2024, the Dominican Executive has been implementing a deportation plan that aims to repatriate 10,000 Haitians per week to control irregular immigration.
According to official figures, between January and July of this year, 250,429 undocumented Haitians were deported to their country, which is experiencing a crisis in all aspects.
