Government officials noted a large increase in Haitian migrants as the U.N. Security Council’s MSS struggles to restore order in Haiti.
Government officials of the Dominican Republic have announced plans to start deporting Haitians living illegally in the country, potentially expelling up to 10,000 or more a week.
In Oct. 2 media statements, government spokesman Homero Figueroa said the decision was based on the large number of Haitian migrants living illegally in the Dominican Republic. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are located on the same island, Hispaniola.
“This operation aims to reduce the excessive migrant populations detected in Dominican communities,” he said.
According to Figueroa, the deportations would start immediately and have a strict focus on ensuring “respect for human rights.”
Figueroa said authorities are also planning to strengthen border surveillance and border entry point security. He did not share specific details about what that might include.
According to Figueroa, the decision to start mass expulsions of Haitians is a result of the international community’s “slowness” in restoring stability in Haiti.
He said Dominican Republic government officials had noted a large increase in Haitian migrants as the U.N. Security Council’s Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti has yet to restore order.
Violence in the country escalated significantly after former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021. Prime Minister Ariel Henry came to power soon after and postponed elections, governing without a constitutional mandate or any other elected officials until he resigned in April.
A Kenyan-led MSS sent a contingent of 400 police officers to Haiti on June 25, followed by a second group of 200 officers on July 16.
Gangs in Haiti still control around 80 percent of the Port-au-Prince capital. It’s estimated nearly 700,000 Haitians have been made homeless, and many more thousands have fled the country to escape the violence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.