After murder of 2 Dominicans, 211 Haitians return across the border

Neyba, Dominican Republic.- More than 200 undocumented Haitians were repatriated Sunday after hiding out in the Army barracks and police precinct several days on fears of reprisal in the wake of the murder of a Dominican couple last week allegedly by two Haitians still at large.

The 211 Haitians were handed over to Immigration Agency official in Jimani Hipolito Martinez, who escorted them to their country at once, through the crossing at Malpasse. Children and senior citizens figured among the repatriated.

The repatriation comes in the heels of last week’s stabbing and bludgeoning death of José Méndez and Luja Bocio, both 70, in a village in western Baoruco province. The Haitians Andrés Pie and Papo Sano are suspected of the killings during a burglary.

When the villagers heard of the murders, a mob gathered in the streets and lynched Coito Pie, 25, in retaliation for the deaths of the Dominicans in the village of La Petaca.