Migration intercepts two buses and detains 37 undocumented Haitians

The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) reported that its agents intercepted two buses and detained 37 undocumented Haitians in two separate incidents. According to a press release, one of the vehicles, registration number 1052404, was intercepted on the Juan Pablo II highway and was driven by José Manuel Rosario Santana, who 25 Haitians accompanied. The driver was also arrested. The other bus, file F-369 from the transportation company Caribe Tours, was carrying 12 Haitian passengers who were in irregular migratory conditions. The bus was stopped at the Las Matas de Santa Cruz checkpoint in Montecristi province.

When the vehicle was inspected in Montecristi and the Haitians were apprehended, they did not have legal documents proving their status as foreigners in transit in the country, so they were transferred to the fortress of the Army’s Fourth Infantry Brigade in the Valverde province, along with the driver. Venancio Alcántara, the head of Migration, has warned that transport companies and bus drivers will face penalties for trafficking undocumented immigrants, as established by Law 285-04 and the regulations.

Venancio Alcántara stated that he will “under no circumstances” allow the law to be violated in this manner and that he will act accordingly by the power that it grants him.