13 Haitians arrested for environmental violations in National Park

San Juan, DR.- The Ministry of Environment and the Environmental Protection Service (Senpa), with support from the Dominican Army, arrested 13 Haitians in José del Carmen Ramírez National Park, San Juan de la Maguana. The detainees, found harvesting sweet potatoes in an area where deforestation had occurred, were in irregular immigration status.

Authorities responded to social media reports of deforestation for farming, involving both Dominican and Haitian citizens, in violation of environmental laws. Approximately 100 tasks of land within the park had been cleared, impacting the ecosystem.

The operation aimed to halt illegal activities, verify the reported damage, and protect the park’s resources. The detained individuals were handed over to the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) for further processing.