Luis Abinader warns undocumented Haitians

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, urged undocumented Haitians on Sunday to leave the country voluntarily.

Otherwise, he warned, they will be located and deported as part of new immigration measures.

In a national address, Abinader announced fifteen actions to address irregular migration from Haiti.

He once again criticized the international community for its lack of response to the Haitian crisis.

Dominican Republic Border Reinforced and Wall Construction Accelerated to Contain Haitian Violence

Message to the Nation: Migration and Sovereignty.#Firmeporrd https://t.co/6qhaltmuio

– Luis Abinader (@luisabinader) April 6, 2025

Among the measures is the deployment of 1,500 additional soldiers to the border, adding to the 9,500 already stationed there.

An additional 750 immigration agents will also be dispatched to various areas of the country.

Luis Abinader stated that these actions aim to prevent gang violence in Haiti from spilling over the border.

He also announced that the construction of the border wall between the two countries will be expedited.

Furthermore, president Luis Abinader revealed that the Labor Code will be reformed to include penalties for employers who hire undocumented Haitians.

He reminded the public that Dominican consulates in Haiti have not issued visas for nearly two years due to their closure.

“We recommend that they leave voluntarily, or they will be sought out and repatriated,” the president reiterated.

Abinader acknowledged the concern of Dominicans over the impact of migration on hospitals and schools.

The Dominican president announced the creation of a Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Immigration Affairs and a legal reform initiative.

On Monday, April 21, a new protocol for treating Haitians in public hospitals will go into effect.

Identification, a letter of employment, and proof of residence will be required for medical attention.

If the patient does not meet the requirements, they will still be treated but subsequently repatriated.

A migration agent will be assigned to each hospital to enforce the protocol, he said.

There will also be a service fee for all medical care provided to foreign nationals.

Since October, the country has carried out mass deportations, averaging about 10,000 people per week.

According to official figures, more than 180,000 Haitians have been deported since then.

This comes despite calls from international organizations to stop returning people to a country in crisis.

So far in 2024, more than 5,600 people have died due to violence in Haiti, according to official data.