Sound measures against illegal Haitian migration

I have always said that the leader who has shown the most concern for the problem of illegal Haitian migration in the Dominican Republic has been President Luis Abinader, consistently raising the issue in international forums and taking measures to prevent the increase of illegal immigration into the country.

Recently, the president issued a call to opposition leaders, Leonel Fernández of Fuerza del Pueblo and Danilo Medina of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), so that together they would address the issue of Haitian immigration and seek solutions. This constitutes a reasonable call, as the head of state has never been exclusionary, and furthermore, the opposition leaders were rulers who applied migration policies.

With this call from the president, the problem of illegal Haitian immigration can be addressed nationally, involving political sectors in seeking a solution. This is especially important now, as it is notable that there are people who coincide with international organizations and who seek to allow Haitians to reside illegally in the country. Such a stance is expressed when declarations are made suggesting, for example, that measures must be taken to allow pregnant women and children in irregular situations to remain in Dominican territory.

In such an unfavorable scenario for the country, it is necessary that measures continue to be adopted as has been done thus far, always respecting and protecting the human condition at the time of deportations. But we can never condone allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

These measures entail protocols applied not only in the Dominican Republic but are also applied, for example, in countries like the United States, which also repatriate Haitians in irregular situations in their territory. Recently, the U.S. government representative in the country said that their nation is adopting measures and is doing the impossible to prevent people from migrating illegally to the United States.

Therefore, if the United States adopts a migration policy of that nature, why can’t Dominicans do the same? That policy is in place in the United States, Canada, and other countries that should be responsible for the Haitian problem. However, the international community has turned its back on this problem, when the correct approach would be to support all measures adopted by the President of the Republic to curb illegal immigration and regulate the Haitian presence in the country.

Furthermore, other sectors that benefit from illegal Haitian immigration have subtly spoken out through intermediaries to pressure against the approval of the law that regulates and establishes greater consequences for the illicit trafficking of persons, as presented to the National Congress by the President of the Republic through the Legal Consultant of the Executive Branch.

These businessmen who oppose the adoption of measures of that nature; evidently, seek to strengthen their economy. They are businessmen who hold an anti-Dominican and anti-country stance, and their names should be published. Those who oppose it must state it in writing so that there is a record of who they are and so that it remains etched in history. In the future, their grandchildren will say: “My grandfather, or my great-grandfather, was a traitor against the homeland because this problem we have now,” they will say, “was a product, in part, of my grandfather, my great-grandfather, or whoever.”

Therefore, just as on one occasion the list of tax evaders was published, the list of businessmen who oppose the approval of the law against the illicit trafficking of persons should also be published.

Undoubtedly, this legislative piece must be approved exactly as it is, as it is a clear vision to confront the Haitian migration problem. If implemented, perhaps it may not be the panacea, but it will contribute to achieving great solutions for this problem.

Certainly, some sectors may be less benefited by the approval, but legality is the rule, and we can never allow the exception of what is illegal or irregular.

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By Odelis Matos
Lawyer and Electoral Specialist