More Dominicans leave Haiti

Santo Domingo – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) affirmed that the Center for Attention, Resources, and Referrals for Migrants (CARE), which was intended to be inaugurated this Saturday in Veron, Punta Cana, would offer assistance to all persons from different countries residing in that locality.

Yesterday, it was announced that the inauguration would occur today in La Altagracia, but this has been canceled.

In a statement, the IOM said that they do not operate or administer asylum or refugee centers and that the establishment in question would serve the “vulnerable population” in the Punta Cana area.

“It is important to note that the office in Punta Cana is designed to provide free guidance to migrants of all nationalities residing in the area regarding immigration procedures and paperwork under Dominican law. IOM does not operate or administer refugee or asylum centers, as this is outside of our institutional mandate,” the statement said.

They also pointed out that they respect the sovereignty of the Dominican Republic in the definition and application of its migratory policies and that this practice of respect extends to the 161 countries where they have a presence.

The center was to be opened today, but the event was suspended.

“IOM is a technical cooperation agency aligned with governments’ requirements and works for the benefit of migrants. In this sense, it collaborates with governments for safe, regular, and orderly migration; it joins governments in the fight against smuggling and trafficking of migrants while promoting that migration worldwide contributes to the development of their communities and countries of origin,” the statement said.

This Saturday, the International Organization for Migration was to inaugurate a new center in Punta Cana. Still, it was left without effect, according to a statement from the Ministry of Interior and Police through the Vice-Ministry of Migration Management and Naturalization, who welcomed the decision in response to the call made by the institution responsible for migration policy in the Dominican Republic.

The information was provided by the Vice-Minister of Migratory Management and Naturalization, Juan Manuel Rosario, who valued the decision of the United Nations Organization’s (UNO) specialized agency to desist from the center’s inauguration.

The vice minister also highlighted the role of the IOM in contributing to and supporting the migration policies of the States, their laws, and other regulations while reiterating the Dominican State’s decision to continue deporting illegal immigrants and not to allow camps for foreign refugees in an irregular migratory situation in the national territory.

According to IOM Dominican Republic’s web page, the entity has been present in the country since November 25, 1968, providing technical cooperation to strengthen Dominican government entities’ ability to face the new challenges and opportunities of migration, support the comprehensive management of borders, promote inter-institutional coordination, train officials, and protect migrants.