“There are no second chances”

She came running with teary eyes and a desperate attitude. She came in search of “Maxi,” apparently her sentimental partner, who was already settled behind the bars of one of the long bed trucks in which the Migration Directorate carries out its daily operations.

Evidently, if he did not comply with the requirements imposed by the Dominican government to guarantee his stay in this territory, Maxi would be deported to his country of birth, Haiti.

Her companion was also Haitian. However, he hurriedly handed Maxi the passport she was carrying, a cell phone, and a $100 bill.

“Morena, move; you can’t last so long there,” an immigration agent accused her, even though she had not been standing next to the vehicle, located on Winston Churchill Avenue and 27 de Febrero, for more than 30 seconds.

Maxi’s Haitian companion left seconds later, although the journalists present at the time of the incident did not understand in what capacity. However, there was no need to ask her or anyone else when she returned, accompanied by two soldiers and two agents of the Migration Department.

The panicked face of Maxi’s companion was evident. At that moment, the events surrounding her had happened very quickly for the spectators because the time had doubled right there, although the clock had indeed stopped for her.

Second chances

“Pull her up! You can’t jump around so much, second chances are over,” said the same immigration guard who earlier complained about the time he spent talking to Maxi at the side of the truck.

The agents argued with each other for less than a minute. Then, doubts, a “, please come up,” a brief consideration of his possibilities, a minimum of open doors waiting for his entrance, and the Haitian woman, who could not be identified by name and who seemed to be in her twenties, deprived of her freedom and on her way to be repatriated.

What happened at the moment she was captured is unknown. Still, it is not necessary to make much effort to understand why she was coming towards “the truck” guarded by four people who kept her surrounded while one of them was looking at her passport. She was desperately trying to explain her situation to him.