Smaller
BiggerLuis Abinader says Dominican Republic will continue to deport illegal Haitians
Santo Domingo.- On Tuesday, President Luis Abinader reaffirmed that the Dominican Republic will continue to deport Haitians who reside in the country illegally, despite accusations of racism and xenophobia from the international community. He asserted that the country has the right to formulate its immigration policy without interference and has done its utmost to assist the Haitian people. The president pledged to defend national interests while respecting the human rights of Haitians being deported, citing similar actions taken by other organized societies.
President Abinader emphasized that Haiti’s current situation necessitates special measures to control its working population in the Dominican Republic. He explained that regulations are being implemented through commissions to address the issue, which has been challenging given that 90% of Haitian migrants lack documentation. He claimed that the international community must comprehend the gravity of the situation, as Haiti is experiencing a state of ungovernability, and all Haitians are fleeing to different parts of the world, with the Dominican Republic being the most impacted due to its border.
President Abinader acknowledged that some members of the international community, such as the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, understand the problem and propose designating a peacekeeping force in Haiti. The President made these remarks while appearing as a guest on the radio show “A Diario.”
Haitian crisis + mass exodus to DR = Accept them or be label as racist.
What we need to do is create a crap load of factories along the border and become Latin americas next supplier
I have no problem with a country protecting their borders. I do have a problem with deporting people (espcially children) who were born in the Dominican Republic and have no ties to Haiti. They are Domincan in language, culture, etc and don’t even speak the language of Haiti. The Government should focus on the border and stop, for political reasons, deporting any one who looks too black. Even “too black” tourist have been caught up in this. Which is bad for business to say the least. Give people who were born here a reasoable path to citzenship and actually stop illegal immigration at the border.
Mike, that is a complicated subject. Both countries (Haiti and Dominican Rep.) DO NOT practice unrestricted birthright citizenship (i.e., jus soli like in USA). According to the Haitian constitution, “Any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native-born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth.”
Moreover, the Dominican constitution requires that you reside legally, for your offspring to get Dominican nationality at birth. Or that one of the parents to be Dominican. This is not an anomaly. Out of 195 countries in the world, 33 have unrestricted birthright citizenship.
Now, the international community seems to wants for D.R. to:
1. Halt deportations of illegal Haitian immigrants.
2. Change our birthright citizenship laws. However, they do not ask Haiti’s to change theirs.
3. Be part of the solution and/or a stop gap to the many issues in Haiti.
When you enter illegally into a country, it does not make you a tourist. When you overstay your visa, you automatically stop being a tourist.
Agree. On paper you are correct but what is being practiced in many cases is “catch all” who are “too black” and deport. An American tourist friend of mine was taking off the beach in Boca Chica, arrested/handcuffed and held in the back of a truck until a friend brought his American passport too him from his hotel. And only when a few 1000 pesos was exchanged did they let him go. It is well known that the government gives the police a bounty for catching and setting up the deportation of these alleged illegal immigrants. Considering the low pay that the police receive here, no wonder there is so much corruption. I agree that a country has a right to protect its borders and enact humane and reasonable measures to do so. If that means deporting actual illegal aliens then so be it.
Mike, “Boca Chica!!”….your friend should thank his lucky stars that the police found him first and not the local delinquents.
Seriously, the problem is much more complicated than your anecdote. Haiti is a very poor country, cursed with a history of bad leadership, natural catastrophes, bad luck…etc.
The easiest reprieve for the Haitian poor is to venture illegally into Dominican Rep. With “59% of its population [living] under the poverty line and more than 24% [living] in a situation of extreme poverty”. Illegal immigration will only get worse.
Trust me I get it. I don’t blame those poor souls! You have to do, what you have to do to survive.
However, where is the outrage against the haitian: elites, politicians, diaspora. I feel that Dominican Rep. is used as a scapegoat, to distract from the responsibilities these groups have for the current situation in Haiti.
Here in the US, we separated migrant families and put children in cages. Did you forget how the Haitian migrants were treated at the Texas Border? That wasn’t a pretty picture.
Too little too late. We are already invaded.