Dominican Republic Deports Nearly 11,000 Haitians Amid Growing Tensions

The Dominican Republic announced on Tuesday that it has deported or repatriated nearly 11,000 Haitians in the past week, fulfilling its commitment to deport up to 10,000 Haitians weekly. This move comes as Haiti grapples with severe poverty and rampant gang violence.

In response to the mass deportations, Haitian officials have called for an emergency meeting at the Organization of American States, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille criticised the deportations on social media, stating that they violate fundamental principles of human dignity.

Activists warn that the deportations endanger the lives of thousands as Haiti struggles with escalating gang violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s foreign affairs minister, condemned the deportations as “dehumanising acts,” while activist William Charpentier highlighted the growing number of abandoned children in the Dominican Republic as parents are forcibly taken.

Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of legal migrants, with reports of extortion by Dominican soldiers demanding payments to avoid deportation, even for those with proper documentation.