Dominican government rejects racism allegations

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican government has firmly rejected allegations of implementing racist immigration policies, following criticisms from Amnesty International (AI). Vice President Raquel Peña, speaking at a public event, emphasized the country’s commitment to defending its sovereignty, stating that international organizations can express their views but must respect the nation’s sovereignty and its policies, which she claimed have never harmed immigrants, regardless of their origin.

Amnesty International had issued a statement highlighting the urgent need for Dominican institutions to address racial profiling, structural racism, and discrimination, particularly against Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent. The organization called for migration policies that respect the dignity and human rights of all individuals.

Despite international concerns, the Dominican Republic has continued its deportations of Haitian migrants, becoming the leading country in deporting Haitians since 2022. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 208,000 Haitians were deported in 2023, including more than 20,000 minors. Amnesty International criticized these expulsions, citing violations of the principle of non-refoulement and the right to asylum. Ana Piquer, AI’s Americas director, urged the new Dominican government under President Luis Abinader to commit to addressing the human rights challenges documented in recent months.