At a time when Haiti is going through an unprecedented food and security crisis, the Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR) draws the attention of stakeholders to the often massive repatriations of Haitian migrants by many countries in the North hemisphere, in particular the United States which restarted on April 18 with its expulsion operations after a three-month interruption and the Dominican Republic "the only country to consistently maintain repatriations to Haiti."

Following the re-election of President Luis Abinader, who made the fight against illegal immigration one of his campaign priorities, a large part of the Haitian community of "little Haiti" (Pequeño Haiti) located in the San Carlos sector of the National District in Santo Domingo, say they are worried fearing the increase in "anti-Haitian" sentiment among the Dominican

Others believe, on the contrary, that the authorities will ease the pressure, now that the election is over...

Since coming to power in 2020, President Abinader has imposed a policy of firmness towards people in an irregular migratory situation on Dominican territory (mainly Haitians)

More than 250,000 repatriations of compatriots took place in 2023 according to official data.

In April 2024, 35,038 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation were repatriated to Haiti (24,874 in the four official points: Anse-à-Pitres, Belladère, Malpasse and Ouanaminthe) and 10,164 others through unofficial crossing points.

8,094 compatriots were turned back at the border for illegally entering Dominican territory (3,763 migrants in the 4 official points and 4,331 in the other unofficial points).

In addition, in April, 26,946 Haitians decided to return "voluntarily" to Haiti (9,824 through the 4 official points and 17,122 through unofficial crossings).

S/ HaitiLibre