Over two hundred Haitian illegal immigrants were arrested yesterday, early morning raids in "led" by officials of the Directorate General of Immigration and National Army, at the highway toll of Las Américas. These operations were extended to bus stops located in Boca Chica and Andrés, who serve both, the east and the National District.

Haitians were checked in minibuses by military officials and immigration to check if they were legally resident in the Dominican Republic. Those who had no documents were taken to the headquarters of the Immigration for repatriation to their countries of origin.

Representatives of several neighborhood councils of Santiago confirmed to have arrived at an agreement with immigration officials, according to which the illegal Haitians will not be persecuted by the public until February 27 to give authorities the time to resolve the situation themselves.

The Assistant Director of Immigration, Izidro Juan Perez, who took part in the meeting with neighborhood councils said that, relayed by the international press, the threats of Dominican citizens are likely to cause great harm to the country, by feeding a false perception, according to which in the Dominican Republic, there would be a form of xenophobia against Haitians, while according to him, this is not the case.

Whereas last December, Fritz Cinéas, Ambassador of Haiti to the Dominican Republic deplored the behavior of some Haitians, is now the turn of the Dominican ambassador in Haiti, Ruben Silié, to qualify his compatriots of extremists who threaten to expel with force the Haitians which are illegal in many parts of the Dominican Republic, particularly in Santiago.

About agreements between immigration and population, Ambassador Silié said Thursday that such agreements do not reflect the official position of his government. He said that the policy of his government, consists to keep in the country, the Haitians who are in regular situation and to prevent illegal entry.

The Dominican diplomat recommends a new management of the migration issue between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, noting that it is together, that the two countries can find a solution. He is convinced that the situation of Haitians in the Dominican Republic, concerns the Haitian authorities, regretting however, have not been able so far to meet with the Government on this issue.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2144-haiti-social-1221-haitian-repatriated-in-17-days.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2049-haiti-social-700-haitians-repatriated-in-5-days-1-dead.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2035-haiti-social-haitians-from-santiago-repatriates-starting-from-january-6th-2011.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2026-haiti-social-immigration-a-delicate-situation-that-must-be-handled-with-care.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2021-haiti-diplomacy-the-ambassador-of-haiti-deplored-the-behavior-of-his-compatriots.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2008-haiti-social-risk-of-dominican-haitian-clashes-on-january-3.html

S/ HaitiLibre