The warning from the US Embassy in the country that the Immigration Directorate detains African-American citizens because of their skin color infuriated the ruling party and opposition politicians, who questioned the occurrence of these events. The Dominican government deemed the document presented by the US on Saturday to be “manifestly unfounded, untimely, and unhappy.”
“The terms of said statement contradict the excellent bilateral relationship that exists between the Dominican Republic and the United States in all areas: political, economic, military, social, and cooperation, whether in the matter of drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling or ammunition, corruption, or the fight against impunity, among others,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“Our country is the United States’ first commercial partner in the Caribbean and the sixth in Latin America,” he added. “We have been one of America’s most trusted allies in ensuring that the international system remains free, open, prosperous, and secure for all nations. In this spirit, we established the Alliance for Democratic Development to promote democratic values and human rights.”