Dominican Republic boosts security on border with crisis-ridden Haiti
Al Jazeera7 days
Dominican Republic Tightens Border Control Amid Haiti Crisis
Above: President Luis Abinader speaks at Independence Day celebrations in Santo Domingo on Feb. 27, 2025. Image copyright: Photo by FRANCESCO SPOTORNO/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
The Abinader government's strict border controls are a necessary response to the crisis in Haiti, aimed at protecting the Dominican Republic from cross-border violence and the pressure illegal migration places on public services and the economy. While the international community must step up to address Haiti’s challenges, the burden cannot — and should not — fall solely on the Dominican Republic.
Left narrative
The harsh immigration measures represent an escalation of the humanitarian crisis facing Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic, with documented cases of abuse and warrantless home invasions during deportations. The measures themselves, like all those imposed by the Abinader government, are fundamentally discriminatory and are clear human rights violations.