Dominican Center to launch major study on Dominican-Haitian relations

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Center for Strategic Thinking, led by geopolitical analyst and professor Manuel Cruz, announced plans to conduct the country’s first comprehensive socioeconomic study on the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, aiming to bring reliable data to the debate over migration and border issues.

The research will seek to move discussions about Haitian migration away from emotion and political polarization by using verifiable statistics from official government sources. A nationwide survey of 4,000 people will measure public sentiment and perceptions of migration and the border situation.

The study will also request official data on visas granted to Haitian nationals from 2020 through August 2026, categorized by purpose, including tourism, employment and studies. It will examine government spending on border security, including logistics, fuel, food supplies, interdiction operations and deportations.

Researchers will additionally compile data on Haitian students enrolled in the Dominican education system, government spending on the Regularization Plan, and births recorded in public hospitals, including the migration status of the parents.

The center said it will formally request the information from the relevant government agencies in the coming days and expects to present the study’s findings before the end of 2026.

The Dominican Center for Strategic Thinking is a multidisciplinary platform of Dominican professionals focused on geopolitical analysis, public policy and initiatives aimed at strengthening institutions and promoting national well-being.