Following the tension between the population of certain neighborhoods in the south of the city of Santiago, the second city of the Dominican Republic, whose inhabitants had issued an ultimatum to the Haitian for they leave their neighborhoods, threatening them to use force if necessary https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2008-haiti-social-risk-of-dominican-haitian-clashes-on-january-3.html the Ministry of Interior, the police, the Prosecutor of Santiago, groups of Jesuits and immigration officers attended a meeting on December 31 to avoid the intervention of the population and the risk of kindling of the situation.

Vice Admiral Sigfrido Pared Pérez, Director General of Immigration, said yesterday that his Ministry will respond firmly to the illegal entry of Haitians in the Dominican Republic after January 6. He said that his office would proceed with the repatriation of all Haitians residing illegally "We are going to wait for January 6 to conclude, which is the date on which the authorities were committed to get the Police to intervene in the matter, proceeding to remove those people who reside illegally in diverse sectors of Santiago", specifying that Haitians have become a serious threat to the peace and livelihood of the families reside in diverse neighborhoods of Santiago

Sectors of civil society, including the Catholic Church, have voiced their concern with the large number undocumented Haitians who live illegally in Santiago, Santo Domingo and other cities across the country.

S/ HaitiLibre