The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has unveiled a series of stringent measures aimed at addressing the influx of migrants entering the country illegally, in response to the growing violence in Haiti. These new policies, which Abinader described as “painful but necessary” in a speech delivered on Sunday, will involve measures such as charging undocumented migrants for hospital services and penalizing those who rent accommodations to individuals without proper documentation.
“Our national identity will remain intact, and our willingness to help will not be taken advantage of,” stated Abinader. Beginning April 21, hospitals will be required to verify the identity, work permit, and residency status of patients. If patients are unable to provide these documents, they will receive medical care but will be deported afterwards. Additionally, each hospital will have a migration agent to oversee compliance with these new regulations.
The government also plans to reinforce the border shared with Haiti by deploying an additional 1,500 soldiers, increasing the total number of personnel to 11,000. Furthermore, construction on the border wall, which already spans 34 miles (54 kilometers), will be expedited by adding an additional 8 miles (13 kilometers).
President Abinader acknowledged the concerns over Haiti’s current situation, mentioning the irregular migration it causes, and the consequent strain on resources such as hospitals and schools, as well as the security risks and economic impacts. Human-rights advocate Roudy Joseph expressed his disappointment, stating that these measures had already been informally implemented and describing the presence of migration agents in hospitals as a threat to the Haitian community.
Joseph also accused the Dominican government of racially discriminatory and xenophobic policies towards Haitians, aligning with an ultranationalist agenda. Since October, the administration claims to have deported more than 180,000 migrants suspected of residing illegally in the country. Reports from human rights activists and those deported suggest that authorities have conducted unwarranted home raids.
Abinader also highlighted a forthcoming legislative debate over a new bill proposing tougher punishments for those facilitating illegal border crossings. “Violence plaguing Haiti will not find its way into the Dominican Republic,” he asserted. The President also mentioned efforts to ensure local employment in certain sectors, specifically agriculture and construction, which heavily rely on undocumented workers.
His speech follows protests by an ultranationalist group advocating for stricter measures against illegal immigration. This group has threatened further demonstrations if their demands remain unmet. The backdrop of this situation includes the escalating presence of gangs in Haiti, seizing control of large parts of Port-au-Prince and instigating chaos in traditionally peaceful neighborhoods.
Abinader urged international support, emphasizing that the global community has a responsibility to aid Haiti, and declaring that the Dominican Republic should not be burdened with a crisis that is not theirs to solve.