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Santo Domingo.- The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) reported that 115,461 undocumented Haitians have voluntarily left the Dominican Republic so far this year, a process attributed to government measures targeting irregular immigration. In August alone, 20,586 Haitians returned home. The DGM emphasized that the departures are conducted with respect for human rights and in a safe, orderly manner intended to promote citizen security and combat human trafficking.

Since January, a total of 250,741 Haitians in irregular status have been deported. These measures follow President Luis Abinader’s April recommendation that undocumented migrants either leave voluntarily or face repatriation, amid ongoing political, economic, and security crises in Haiti.

However, international organizations have raised concerns about the policy. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Amnesty International (AI) warn that vulnerable groups—including pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children—are being returned to precarious conditions. AI has also criticized the Dominican government for racialized immigration practices, denial of basic services, and the arbitrary deprivation of nationality for thousands of people of Haitian descent, leaving them stateless.