Recently, about a hundred Haitians, who were heading to Ecuador via the Dominican Republic, were arrested at the airport by Dominican authorities and deported to Haiti. This tragedy has ruined their hopes and aspirations for a better future.
After their arrest, the migrants were held in HAINA prison, where they endured inhumane conditions. They were deprived of food and water and suffered mistreatment. Furthermore, the Dominican lawyers, who had been paid between US$200 and US$400 to represent them, never appeared in court to defend them.
Dominican authorities have also seized migrants’ passports and phones, without returning them after their deportation. This seizure complicates their situation and hinders their ability to obtain justice.
In this context, it is imperative that the Haitian Embassy in the Dominican Republic intervene quickly to recover the migrants’ documents and ensure that their rights are respected.
Political instability, growing insecurity, unemployment, corruption and poor governance in Haiti have pushed many Haitians to leave their country in search of a better life elsewhere. Faced with gang violence and daily precariousness, these migrants are desperate for an opportunity for survival and prosperity.
