Dominican Foreign Minister Roberto Álvarez said Wednesday that the Dominican Republic will continue deporting illegal Haitian immigrants, rejecting a United Nations call to halt “deportations” of Haitian nationals.
Neighboring Haiti and the Dominican Republic each occupy one side of the territory of Hispaniola, one of the four Greater Antilles in the Caribbean along with Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
Haiti has experienced years of intense unrest and criminal violence, and 2021 has seen widespread unrest worsen. assassination About President Jovenel Moïse, who was shot dead in the presidential palace.
This week, an organized armed militia led by Jimmy “Barbeque” Sheridier took control of the country. Resignation Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s remarks on Monday. Henry is currently stranded in Puerto Rico and finds himself unable to return to Port-au-Prince as militias have taken control of the airport.
In light of the deteriorating situation in Haiti. Dominican authorities this week began a campaign to deport illegal Haitians, transporting them in trucks and dropping them at the Haitian border.
🇴🇹 | ÚLTIMA HORA: La República Dominicana está realizando una operación masiva deportación de haitianos ilegales, trasladándolos en camiones hasta lafrontera. pic.twitter.com/hqHjcNYTCs
— UHN Plus (@UHN_Plus) March 13, 2024
At a press conference on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called on the Dominican Republic and other countries to “respect the human rights” of Haitians and avoid “forced return.”
“We don’t want to force or deport large numbers of people to countries that are obviously unsafe,” Dujarric said.
Roberto Alvarez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic was denied Dujarric’s remarks were made minutes later during a private press conference.
“While we respect the opinion of Mr. Stephane Dujarric, we have a well-established policy in the national interest to return to Haiti all those illegally present in Dominican territory in accordance with our laws,” Álvarez said. Stated.
“The situation in Haiti is a national security issue for the Dominican Republic and must be kept in mind. Therefore, General Secretariat Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric advises other countries, i.e. countries that are not neighbors of Haiti, to “I understand what you’re asking for,” he said.
Haitians cross the border between Cunamiente, Haiti and Dajabon, Dominican Republic to work at the bilateral market in Dajavon, Dominican Republic, March 8, 2024 (Erickson Polanco/AFP via Getty Images)
Alvarez claimed that the Dominican Republic government provides “substantial” contributions to Haitian expatriates, amounting to more than 26% of the 2023 national budget.
“We can’t continue to maintain these numbers,” Alvarez said. “We have no choice but to continue deporting those who entered the country illegally in the Dominican Republic. We will act with respect for international treaties and human rights treaties.”
The Dominican Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that inappropriate situations sometimes arise during deportation procedures, and said that “there is a desire and willingness in all local governments to comply with these rules” and therefore to ensure that they are kept as short as possible. He said he is working to rectify the situation.
