Wednesday, the Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago urged the Haitian community to be very vigilant due to the intensification of the deportation process https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21499-haiti-flash-more-than-140-000-haitians-turned-back-at-the-dominican-border.html

The consulate "strongly recommends Haitian nationals to always travel with their valid passport, with a visa or residence permit, in order to avoid any confrontation with the Dominican authorities.

Moreover, to avoid all kinds of physical and psychological abuse, Haitian citizens in an illegal migration situation on Dominican territory, when arrested by immigration officials or other Dominican authorities, must not resist."

The Consulate reminds the Haitian community that an emergency number is available 24/7 to provide the necessary assistance to the extent possible.

Emergency number: (809) 671-IJAN / (809) 671-4526

Moreover, following the intensification of the operations of Dominican immigration and the deportations of Haitian nationals residing in Santiago, the representatives of the Consulate General of Haiti in Santiago, Minister Counselor Jacques Pierre Matilus, Consul Carl Edouard St Rémy, the Consul Délinx Pierre Louis met with Dionicio Jerez, the representative of the Human Rights Commission in Santiago, to discuss the important points relating in particular to the closing of the stalls operated by Haitian traders in the market Mercado Nuevo "Plaza el Sombrero"

Subsequently, they met again with Colonel Green, Head of the Deportation Center in Santiago, expressing Consulat's concern about the treatment of Haitian citizens during the repatriation process before discussing with Jose Andres Rodriguez, the President of the Union of Cibao Workers, in the marketplace where they took the opportunity to make a statement of the situation.

Recall that the Mayor of Santiago, Abel Martínez, faced with the occupation of parks, many sidewalks, street traders in the streets and complaints of citizens, issued the municipal bylaw that specifies for all foreigners in the territory of the city, to make formal or informal business must have a valid Dominican residence permit and hold a municipal license. In the absence of this license illegal trades will be closed, the goods seized and if the trader is in irregular migration situation it will be handed over to the Migration service for deportation in his country of origin.

SL/ HaitiLibre