Deputy Tony Bengoa: ‘Only 40,000 illegal Haitians deported out of over 2 million

Santo Domingo.- Tony Bengoa, deputy for Dajabón and member of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), dismissed claims that the deportation of illegal Haitian immigrants is causing a crisis in agriculture and construction in the Dominican Republic. He criticized sectors within President Luis Abinader’s government for opposing immigration measures aimed at reinforcing Dominican sovereignty and identity. Bengoa emphasized that only a fraction of the estimated two million Haitians in the country—less than 50,000—have been deported, urging an increase in deportations rather than halting them.

In response to proposals by the former Minister of Agriculture and former President Hipólito Mejía to issue work permits to Haitian laborers, Bengoa argued that Haiti’s current instability, marked by gang violence and terrorism, differs significantly from past conditions under Joaquín Balaguer. He rejected comparisons and insisted that the government’s actions are a rightful exercise of national sovereignty, rather than an overreach or a cause for crisis.

Bengoa also rejected accusations of racism, stating that President Abinader’s policies are focused on maintaining order and legality. He maintained that the government’s actions aim to protect the Dominican Republic’s interests while asserting control over immigration issues.