Montecristi Court orders preventive detention for hotel manager in migrant trafficking case

Montecristi.- The Permanent Attention Court in Montecristi has ordered three months of preventive detention for Diógenes Rafael Vásquez, manager of the La Altagracia Hotel, where 83 Haitian nationals were staying after being detained for entering the Dominican Republic without proper immigration documentation. This action follows an operation conducted by the General Directorate of Immigration (DGM) in coordination with the Dominican Republic Army.

Magistrate Abierka Antonia Gómez ruled on the preventive detention, a stricter measure than the typical periodic presentation or financial guarantee. The DGM emphasized that this decision “sets an important precedent” in addressing illegal immigration and sends a strong message to those involved in migrant trafficking, reinforcing the authorities’ commitment to enforcing the country’s migration laws.

According to a DGM statement, this measure aims to strengthen immigration controls, especially near the border, and highlights the authorities’ dedication to upholding national legal standards. The operation at the La Altagracia Hotel was a joint effort between the Dominican Republic Army and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.