Legislators warn of economic and migration crisis if HELP program ends

Santo Domingo.-  Legislators, economists, and Haitian representatives are urging the renewal of the Haiti Economic Enhancement Program (HELP) Extension Act, warning that its termination could eliminate around 25,000 jobs in Haiti and the Dominican Republic while fueling migration pressures.

Dominican Senator Omar Fernández (Fuerza del Pueblo) stressed that the law has attracted investment to the border region and acted as a barrier against illegal migration. Without it, he warned, many unemployed Haitians could seek opportunities in the Dominican Republic. Economist Edita Rodríguez Salce added that the end of the program would harm both economies and jeopardize the free trade zone sector, which employs thousands in companies producing for brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Calvin Klein, and Klass.

William Charpentier, coordinator of the National Roundtable for Migration and Refugees, called the program’s dismantling a severe blow to Haiti, already suffering under political and economic collapse. He criticized the lack of international consistency, noting that while governments pledge support for Haiti, key initiatives are allowed to expire. The closure of the textile sector—one of Haiti’s few economic lifelines—further deepens the country’s crisis.