No Haitian throngs for Dominican Republic’s alien registry push

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s Plan to Regularize Foreigners kicked off Monday in 12 of the most populated provinces governorates, although not with the high number of mostly Haitian immigrants expected.

In a National Palace press conference government spokesman Roberto Rodríguez Marchena said the regulation plan is free of charge, and without middlemen.

For his part, Interior and Police minister José Ramón Fadul said the planis for nationals from more than 90 countries residing in the country. "This plan is not only for the Haitian people, since there are citizens of some 90 nations that can be regulated in the country."

Immigration Agency director Ricardo Taveras and representatives of NGOs and human rights groups also participated in the press conference.

The 12-month Plan will allow registry for residency and eventually naturalization of people who’ve entered the national territory irregularly or remained in the country beyond the period allowed.