Dominican authorities deny detention of Haitian official Smith Augustin at border

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s Directorate General of Migration (DGM) has denied reports that Smith Augustin, a member of Haiti’s Presidential Transitional Council (CTP), was arrested upon entering the country on July 30. According to an official statement, Augustin arrived at the Dajabón border crossing after closing hours and was received by the Haitian vice consul, but immigration procedures could not be completed at that time.

The DGM clarified that Augustin was contacted the next day to finalize his entry protocols, and at no point was he detained or interrogated. This account was also confirmed by the CTP, refuting claims circulated in Haitian and Dominican media suggesting that he bypassed immigration controls, traveled to Santiago and Santo Domingo, and was later held at the Haitian consulate before being returned to Haiti.