Haitians detained by Immigration say they have documentation
San Cristóbal – Several Haitian nationals raised their voices this Friday after being detained by the Immigration authorities despite allegedly having their documentation.
“If the person has a document, why are they arrested?” is the most repeated question among those who have experienced this situation.
These arrests have generated deep concern among Haitian communities residing in the country, as they claim to be complying with all legal requirements. However, they claim to be victims of “unjust” raids, which do not distinguish between those legally in the territory and those not.
“They stopped me while I was walking. I couldn’t even show my documents, but they still took me. I spent hours detained for no reason,” said a Haitian national.
Others describe the event as an “abuse.”
“If you grab the person (out of confusion or not), but when they brought him in here (those brought to this shelter, located in Haina, San Cristóbal province), you must allow the family to see him,” they explained.
They assured that “if they have a document, they must check it and release that person. If they do not have a document, they have the right to deport them.”
They also denounce that the people who are detained “are eating badly, and they do not know if they are sick to give them this type of treatment.”
Immigration will deport 10 thousand Haitians per week
The operations of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) to deport 10,000 Haitians per week began this Thursday in Greater Santo Domingo, as agreed this Wednesday at the Defense and National Security Council headed by President Luis Abinader.
The Director General of Migration, Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester (ARD), reiterated that everything is carried out with respect for rights, propriety, and the proportional use of force as proposed by President Luis Abinader in the Council of Defense and National Security.
He explained that they also make other large-scale adjustments, strategy, intelligence, logistics, capabilities, detention protocol, and vehicles. As of this Friday, the different institutions interacting with the institution were integrated.
The days of detention of irregular foreigners are carried out with the collaboration of the Armed Forces, the National Army, the Air Force of the Dominican Republic, the Quiet City Task Force (CIUTRAN), the National Police, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in different neighborhoods and sectors of the National District, the province of Santo Domingo, Santiago, and La Altagracia.
Lee Ballester specified that these actions would be practical and carried out in accordance with the provisions of the General Migration Law 285 – 04, the application decree 631 – 11, and human rights.
He added that when they are taken to the interdiction centers, they will be purged, and those who do not have an open immigration process in the DGM will be deported to their country. This operation seeks to reduce the excess migrant population perceived in Dominican communities and will be carried out under strict protocols that ensure respect for the human rights and dignity of the returnees.