Santo Domingo.- Organizations defending Haitians in the Dominican Republic have reported a rise in cases of racist violence against migrants from Haiti. The #HaitianosRD collective highlighted an “uptick” in violent incidents involving military personnel, police, immigration agents, and radicalized civilians, fueled by xenophobic and racist rhetoric from government spokesmen.
The group cited several incidents, including the deaths of three migrants between March and June at the hands of the military, and two murders in July of Haitian farmers by a landowner. They also noted the death of a 23-year-old woman who, after being “arbitrarily” detained by immigration agents on July 3, was allegedly denied medical attention and died the following day.
Reports from the Haitian NGO Support Group for Repatriated and Refugees (GARR) allege that immigration agents attempted to dispose of the woman’s body at the border with Haiti without following proper protocols or providing an explanation for her death.
The #HaitianosRD collective described the actions as a stark portrayal of “racist violence” by Dominican government agents, who they claim have carried out thousands of arbitrary arrests, often for extortion, regardless of individuals’ immigration status.
The group also condemned “illegal raids” conducted by military personnel, police, and members of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) without court orders or the presence of prosecutors, often occurring late at night.
On July 9, the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship expressed regret over the deaths and called on Dominican authorities to investigate the incidents. In response, the Dominican Republic “categorically rejected” the Haitian government’s claims of inhuman treatment of its citizens on Dominican soil.