OAS, U.S. caution Dominican Republic on children of Haitians

Santo Domingo. – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza yesterday advised the Dominican Government to seek a just solution to the problem of nationality of children of Haitian immigrants born in the country.

"All countries have the obligation to protect the human rights of immigrants so there must be a solution which recognizes those human rights," Clinton said in a press conference in the residence of U.S. Ambassador Raul H. Yzaguirre.

Clinton, speaking in the Ministerial Meeting of the U.S. initiative “Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas,” urged the Dominican authorities to identify the ways to solve the topics of residence and citizenship of the children of Haitian immigrants. “These are extremely difficult issues and we want to encourage a fair solution so that the rights of the people are recognized, but it’s the right which nations have to control their internal borders is also clear."

OAS Secretary General

For Insulza, a friendly solution must be sought in the conflict stemming from a denunciation against the Dominican Republic submitted to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission on the alleged denaturalization of children born to undocumented Haitians.

Interviewed in the National Palace after meeting with president Leonel Fernandez, Insulza said he was aware that the Dominican Republic is preparing for the hearing. “And will hopefully arrive at what we like most, the friendly solutions, not a discord.”