Activists Say the Dominican Republic Directly Mistreats Haitians

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By Kelton Brooks Published: December 7, 2021

Activists Say the Dominican Republic Directly Mistreats Haitians

Migrants, many from Haiti, wade across the Rio Grande river from Del Rio, Texas, to return to Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, Monday, Sept. 20, 2021, to avoid deportation from the U.S. The U.S. is flying Haitians camped in a Texas border town back to their homeland and blocking others from crossing the border from Mexico. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

In Summary

Haitians are being forced to leave the Dominican Republic at an alarming rate, causing widespread panic in the rapid spike.

In the Dominican Republic, more than 31,000 people have been deported to Haiti this year, which eclipses more than 12,000 in the past three months.

Human rights activists said this alarming rate of deportation has been the most they have seen in decades.

Activists also said the mistreatment of Haitians coincides with the rise of Luis Abinader, who became the country’s president in August 2020.

The Dominican Republic is accused of targeting a population of unprotected people, racial profiling and separating children from their parents.

The demographic of Haiti is overwhelmingly Black. However, a vast majority of Dominicans identify as mixed race. Dominican authorities are allegedly seeking out Haitians who crossed illegally into the Dominican Republic along with the people born and raised in the country.

“We’ve never seen this,” said William Charpantier, national coordinator for the nonprofit National Roundtable for Migration and Refugees. “The government is acting like we’re at war.”

Activists also said the DR targeted Black Dominicans born to Dominican parents whom authorities mistake for Haitians.

Haitian officials and activists said the government is forcing the deportation of pregnant women, splitting up families and arresting people between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., which violates laws and agreements between the two nations.

An increase in hostility towards Haitians has skyrocketed due to actions by Abinader, who suspended a student-visa program for Haitians, according to activists.

Activists said racism and rejection of Haitians is rampant. Dominicans are cursing at them or making degrading comments when they see them on the street.

Despite the rash of severe mistreatment, the population of Haitians is in the hundreds of thousands in the Dominican Republic, as they have been ravaged by violence, racism and natural disasters.

“We don’t come here to take over the country. We’re trying to survive,” said Gaetjens Thelusma of the nonprofit group We Will Save Haiti.