BELLADERE, Haiti — Recently, a group of around 500 individuals arrived in Belladère after being deported from the Dominican Republic. They emerged from dusty trucks and made their way through a narrow opening in a border gate. The deportees, some still wearing their work attire and others without shoes, lined up for essential supplies such as food, water, and medical assistance as they contemplated their next steps.
Under the relentless heat, many of the deportees shared their experiences involving increasing mistreatment by Dominican authorities since President Luis Abinader initiated a stringent policy in October, mandating the deportation of at least 10,000 immigrants weekly. This decision has drawn considerable criticism from various human rights groups.
Odelyn St. Fleur, a mason who had spent two decades working in the Dominican Republic, recounted a disturbing encounter where authorities forcefully entered his home at 4 a.m., disrupting the night he spent with his family. The reported human rights abuses are escalating, with incidents ranging from unauthorized home invasions and racial profiling to the deportation of vulnerable groups like breastfeeding mothers and unaccompanied minors, as efforts to increase deportations become more rigorous. Last year, over 250,000 people faced deportation, with more than 31,200 deported in just January alone.
Activist Roudy Joseph expressed deep concern about the deteriorating situation, stating that daily occurrences lead to children being left alone at schools, highlighting the chaotic ripple effect of these deportations on families.
On another day in Belladère, vendors flocked to the deportees, positioned at either side of the muddy, garbage-laden pathway. They attempted to sell clothing, water, SIM cards, and even illegal transport options back to the Dominican Republic. Some whispered enticing offers in Creole, hinting at clandestine crossings.
Despite stringent enforcement measures, many forcibly removed individuals attempt to return to the Dominican Republic, revealing cracks in the system. Jimmy Milien, a 32-year-old floor installer, faced deportation for the second time after being apprehended during a public transport check. He recalled the harsh language used by authorities as they targeted him without initially requesting any identification. Left behind were his wife and two young children, ages 3 and 12, and he expressed uncertainty about when they might reunite.
Milien was initially headed for Haiti’s capital but was forced to navigate treacherous gang-controlled regions notorious for violence, adding to his fears. He lamented the prevalent dangers in Haiti, where over 5,600 fatalities were recorded last year, a significant number attributed to rampant gang violence that dominates vast areas of Port-au-Prince, including the capital. Should he attempt to return to the Dominican Republic again, the presence of numerous smugglers would await him.
One smuggler, who chose to identify himself only as Mack, revealed that he transports migrants across the border several times each week for a fee, facilitating their illegitimate crossings by paying off Dominican border officials. He shared his experience living in Santo Domingo and his pivot to joining smuggling operations after his own deportation. He explained that he had no intentions of returning to the capital until the aggressive actions of enforcement agencies ease.
Military checkpoints have emerged along the routes leading from the border, where authorities stop buses and scrutinize vehicles for suspected undocumented migrants. Many evade detection by jumping out before checkpoints and reboarding further down the road. Dominican migration director, Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, expressed frustration over the influx of Haitian migrants and their attempts to cross back illegally. He remarked that while the Dominican Republic has borne significant responsibility for the crisis in Haiti, there is an urgent need for Haitian leadership to restore order in their country.
Officials in the Dominican Republic cite concerns about the strain Haitian migrants place on local public services. This has resulted in over 80,000 new Haitian students enrolling in schools in the past four years, alongside substantial healthcare costs linked to a high rate of births among Haitian women. Ballester announced plans to increase the number of migration officials deployed nationwide to manage what he termed a growing challenge concerning undocumented immigrants, insisting that these practices present a risk to the nation’s stability.
Denial of abuse claims was accompanied by an acknowledgment that officials are permitted to enter homes under certain conditions. Furthermore, he noted that training for personnel is underway to reaffirm their commitments to human rights. Ballester reiterated that unaccompanied minors are not deported and that protocols are in place to separate women and children during deportation processes. However, reports of unaccompanied teenagers, such as 15-year-old Jovenson Morette, highlight a troubling trend. He was apprehended while working and later found himself deported, prompting Haitian officials to interview him about his family in Belladère.
UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, Geeta Narayan, underscored the vulnerabilities faced by unaccompanied minors, especially in areas rife with armed gangs. Last year, the Dominican Republic witnessed the deportation of 1,099 unaccompanied children, of which 786 were eventually reunited with family members. The situation is troubling for parents, including Josette Jean, who faced distress when her son was deported alone, despite him being born in the Dominican Republic.
Concerns about the fate of children born in the Dominican Republic but lacking legal citizenship documents are prominent, with activists accusing the government of allowing legal statuses to lapse or not processing necessary paperwork. The Dominican Republic does not automatically confer citizenship to all born on its soil. With ongoing mass deportations, complaints are emerging from employers in sectors like agriculture and construction, indicating a looming labor gap. Ballester’s response to these grievances was to advocate for hiring Dominican citizens.
A video recording captured an alarming incident involving Mikelson Germain, who sustained an injury while attempting to evade the authorities. While abuses and violence persist, activists allege that efforts to hold officials accountable are insufficient. Incidents of local outrage among Dominican citizens have surfaced, with some expressing dissatisfaction with the treatment imposed upon their Haitian neighbors, leading to confrontations in defense of the deportees.
As deportations continue unabated, President Abinader voiced his concern over Haiti’s deteriorating situation, labeling it a regional threat and warning of a potential “uncontrollable wave of migration.” He called for international support for a U.N.-sponsored mission aimed at combating gang influences in Haiti. “There is no Dominican solution to the Haitian crisis,” he emphasized, highlighting the dire conditions in Haiti while calling for more significant global engagement.
