The Abinader government’s measure has drawn immediate condemnation from Haiti, with its representative to the UN describing it as an ‘ethnic cleansing strategy’. The Abinader government’s measure has drawn immediate condemnation from Haiti, with its representative to the UN describing it as an ‘ethnic cleansing strategy’.The situation for Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic has deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks. The Dominican government has stepped up deportations, with nearly 11,000 people expelled in just one week, according to official data. These expulsions have sparked immediate backlash from Haiti and created diplomatic tensions between the two nations that are located on the island of Hispaniola, according to el Pais.
On October 2, the government of President Luis Abinader announced plans to deport up to 10,000 Haitians per week, citing an “excessive migrant population” in Dominican communities. This marks the most severe immigration policy in the country’s recent history. In the announcement, the president’s spokesperson stated that the expulsions would occur “within the framework of strict protocols that guarantee respect for human rights and the dignity of those being repatriated.” However, complaints from the border indicate that these protocols are not being followed, with recent videos emerging that depict scenes of police brutality.
In light of this situation, the Haitian transitional government — beleaguered by gang violence — urgently requested a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dominique Dupuy. During the meeting, Haiti’s representative, Gandy Thomas, condemned the deportations, labeling them a “strategy of ethnic cleansing” and a “discriminatory campaign” targeting Haitians based on nationality and skin color.
Minister Dupuy expressed deep concern about the “brutal raids and deportations” that Haitians have faced in the Dominican Republic, asserting that these actions violate human dignity and international human rights standards. She called for respect and justice for her fellow Haitians, urging the Dominican government to reconsider its immigration policies.
Dupuy also cautioned about the repercussions of these deportations, stating that many of the repatriated Haitians would return to Haiti without support, resources, or connections to their communities. This, she noted, would exacerbate the already fragile situation in a
