In a significant move to curb undocumented migration, the Dominican Republic has arrested more than 130 Haitian women and children on the first day of a new enforcement campaign. Taking place at hospitals in Santo Domingo, the operation primarily targeted pregnant women and those who had recently given birth. The initiative is part of a broader government plan unveiled last year to deport as many as 10,000 undocumented migrants each week, aiming to combat the flow of people from neighboring Haiti, which has descended into chaos due to rampant gang violence and dire poverty.
Critics have raised alarms over the treatment of Haitian migrants, many of whom are escaping perilous situations in Port-au-Prince. A Haitian woman who accompanied a pregnant friend for medical care expressed her fears about the implications of the crackdown. "If a woman gave birth today, they can't take her today, because they don't know what will happen," she stated. Concerns linger regarding the lack of adequate medical support during transport, particularly for women undergoing C-sections or facing complications.
Authorities insist that those detained will receive medical services and that undocumented mothers will be repatriated safely. The movement of Haitians into the Dominican Republic has increased this year, with reports indicating that over 80,000 have been deported back to Haiti in the first three months alone. President Luis Abinader's administration has voiced its discontent with the international community, highlighting a lack of support in restoring stability to Haiti, which continues to be a source of humanitarian crises spilling over into the Dominican Republic.
