Haiti bishops decry mass deportation of Haitians from Dominican Republic

By Lisa Zengarini

Haiti’s bishops have joined with Dominican bishops’ human rights organizations to condemn the indiscriminate mass deportations, abuse and violence suffered by Haitian citizens living in the neighboring Dominican Republic.

10,000 deportees per week

Earlier in October, Dominican President Luis Abinader announced a plan to expel up to 10,000 Haitian nationals per week to dangerous conditions in Haiti, which is in no condition to absorb the influx as it continues to face an uncontrollable security and humanitarian crisis.

This announcement further soured relations between the two countries which share the island of Hispaniola, with Haitian officials describing this measure as a “strategy of ethnic cleansing” and a “discriminatory campaign against Haitians”.

Discrimination and abuse

The mass deportation adds to systemic racism, xenophobia and the rejection of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian origin. Haitian workers in the country, including illegal immigrants, are often mistreated and abused.

In a statement, the Haitian bishops expressed their solidarity with their fellow citizens who were direct victims of the violence and urged the Dominican authorities “to respect the dignity and sanctity of the lives of Haitians and to put an end to these hateful and discriminatory acts.” .

Mistreating a stranger is “an abominable act”

“While it is the responsibility of the authorities of each nation to strengthen, if necessary, the security and economic systems of their country, the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights do not authorize any State to mistreat foreigners” , they declared, reminding the authorities that the life of every human being “is sacred and inviolable.

“Mistreating a stranger is an abominable act,” they added. “Foreigners must be welcomed with kindness.”

In conclusion, the bishops turned to the Haitian authorities to urge them “to create safe living conditions through responsible and committed governance so that our fellow citizens can feel in peace, harmony, security and hope.” of a better life.”

Dominican bishops say no to arbitrary expulsions

This call follows a statement released last week by the Dominican Episcopal Conference (CED) also calling for humane treatment of Haitian migrants in the country.

As a Christian nation “we must avoid situations that cause suffering to migrants, such as mistreatment, arbitrary expulsions and family separations,” they wrote, urging all Dominicans to “maintain a charitable attitude” toward their Haitian brothers and sisters in difficulty.

The bishops concluded by reiterating their call to the international community not to forget Haiti and to ensure that the agreements reached in the face of the current humanitarian, economic and security crisis in the country are respected.

Haiti recovers from gang violence and hunger

Several human rights organizations have said that involuntarily returning Haitians to their country, hit by gang violence, economic collapse and hunger, is inhumane and cruel. According to Amnesty International, the increase in expulsions could intensify existing illegal practices of collective expulsions, including of people in need of protection, pregnant women, children, stateless people and asylum seekers, thus violating the right international.

Thousands of Haitians have been internally displaced due to gang violence that escalated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. In addition to the security crisis, the island nation is suffering from a crisis eating. According to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), two million Haitians are “facing extreme food shortages, acute malnutrition and high levels of disease, and an estimated 5.4 million people are unable to survive.” feed and nourish their families daily.