Amnesty International (AI) has urged the Dominican government to immediately cease its mass expulsions of Haitians and to repeal a newly implemented protocol that ties access to health services with deportation. Effective Monday, immigration inspectors and agents began verifying patients’ identification, work letters, proof of residence, and payment status in 33 of 15 designated hospitals. Those unable to comply receive care but are deported once medically stable.

On the first day, 87 pregnant or laboring Haitian women were detained under this policy, part of President Luis Abinader’s April 6 package of 15 measures targeting irregular immigration. Abinader had warned undocumented Haitians to “leave voluntarily” or face repatriation.

Ana Piquer, AI’s Americas director, condemned the system as a violation of the right to health, dehumanizing migrants and deterring them from seeking care. She called instead for the government to combat racial discrimination, guarantee international protection for those in need, and uphold a stigma‑free environment.

AI also highlighted that these measures flout the Dominican Republic’s international obligations and its constitutional guarantee of free, universal healthcare. Since October 2024, over 180,000 deportations—largely of Haitians—have occurred, amounting to collective expulsions prohibited under international law. Amnesty called on Dominicans to reject what it terms “cruel and racist” policies.