Dominican Republic Deports Over 130 Haitians from Hospitals

According to the BBC, the Dominican Republic deported more than 130 Haitian women and children on Monday, the first day of a controversial crackdown targeting undocumented migrants in hospitals.

Dominican authorities confirmed that 48 pregnant women, 39 new mothers, and 48 children were detained and sent to a detention centre, where their biometric data was collected before they were handed over to Haitian officials at the Elías Piña border crossing.

The operation is part of a 15-point immigration plan introduced by President Luis Abinader to reduce undocumented migration from Haiti, the neighbouring country it shares the island of Hispaniola with.

Despite government claims that the deportees were treated with dignity and transported in buses equipped with basic amenities, the move has been met with harsh criticism. The Dominican College of Physicians labelled the deportations “inhumane” and warned that fear of arrest could deter undocumented migrants from seeking urgent medical care.

The BBC noted that the Dominican Republic, with a population of 11 million, hosts at least 500,000 Haitians.

President Abinader has defended the crackdown, insisting that “generosity will not be exploited”, and announced that hospitals must now check patients’ IDs, work permits, and proof of legal residence. Deportation will follow once treatment is complete for those without proper documentation.

So far in 2025, the country has deported over 80,000 people to Haiti.