Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic has deported over 119,000 Haitian nationals in the first four months of 2025, marking a 71 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to official figures released by immigration authorities on Monday.
This surge in deportations follows a firm campaign pledge by President Luis Abinader, who was re-elected in May 2024 for a second term. One of his central promises was to intensify efforts to repatriate Haitians residing in the country without legal documentation, citing national security concerns and rising migration pressures from neighboring Haiti, a country grappling with extreme poverty and widespread gang violence.
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According to a statement from the General Directorate of Migration (DGM):
“The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) repatriated 32,540 Haitian citizens in irregular migratory status in the country in April, to complete the figure of 119,003 in the four-month period January–April 2025.”
The agency emphasized that this figure “represents an increase of 71 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.” In total, 276,215 individuals were deported in 2024, illustrating a broader trend of intensified border enforcement and immigration control.
In a controversial move, the Dominican government in late April began conducting raids in public hospitals, targeting undocumented pregnant women and new mothers of Haitian origin. Human rights organizations have condemned these actions, labeling the policy as “cruel” and raising alarms about the ethical and humanitarian implications of arresting vulnerable individuals in medical facilities.
The crackdown forms part of a broader set of security initiatives. President Abinader has also revealed plans to extend the border wall between the Dominican Republic and Haiti by an additional 54 kilometers (33 miles). The two countries share the island of Hispaniola, but relations have long been strained, particularly over migration and economic disparity. The Dominican government has also deployed additional troops to the border region to bolster enforcement.
Despite these measures, approximately 500,000 Haitians currently reside in the Dominican Republic, a nation of 11.3 million people. Many Haitians migrate seeking work opportunities, safety, and access to healthcare, but face increasingly restrictive policies and frequent expulsions.
The escalation of deportations reflects broader regional challenges, including border management, humanitarian responsibility, and the complex socio-political dynamics between the two nations sharing Hispaniola.
