Immigration Director: “response to attack must be proportional to threat”

Santo Domingo.– Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, director of the General Directorate of Migration, confirmed on Wednesday that immigration agents are authorized to use proportional force if attacked during repatriation operations. He emphasized that attacks against agents will be met with an appropriate response, while ensuring that operations remain respectful of human rights.

Lee Ballester also highlighted that immigration agents are undergoing new training, which includes human rights education and repatriation process guidelines, to ensure their actions comply with legal standards and respect the dignity of all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations.

These statements followed a violent incident in the Piantini sector of the National District, where an undocumented Haitian disarmed and shot an immigration officer during an operation. The director stressed the importance of preparing officers to respond appropriately to such threats, while continuing to carry out repatriation efforts within a framework of legal and human rights protections.