Human rights organizations are condemning the Dominican Republic’s recent initiative to expel pregnant Haitian women and new mothers, with critics labeling the action as discriminatory and inhumane.
According to The Guardian, initial enforcement efforts resulted in the deportation of over 130 Haitian citizens from public medical facilities, including 48 expectant mothers, 39 women who had recently given birth, and 48 children. Reports from local news outlets revealed a particularly alarming incident where authorities deported a woman during active labor, as documented by The Guardian.
The influx of Haitian women into the Dominican Republic has steadily increased as Haiti’s healthcare infrastructure continues to collapse. This deportation initiative aligns with President Luis Abinader’s comprehensive immigration strategy, designed to reduce unauthorized migration from Haiti, a nation grappling with severe humanitarian challenges.
Amnesty International’s Americas campaigner, Guillermo Rodríguez, strongly criticized the government’s stance. “We’re appalled by the administration’s commitment to implementing policies that are blatantly cruel, racist and misogynistic,” he stated, noting that genuine progress cannot emerge from “brutality and human anguish,” as reported by The Guardian. He specifically criticized hospital targeting, stating it forces pregnant women to choose between deportation and potentially fatal health risks.
Dominican officials maintained their actions were appropriate, claiming deportees underwent medical evaluations to confirm their fitness for travel before being transported in what they termed “well-equipped buses” in compliance with domestic and international regulations.
International organizations expressed grave concerns. UN special rapporteur on violence against women, Reem Alsalem, opposed the deportations, arguing that returning vulnerable individuals to Haiti’s violent and unstable environment violates international commitments (The Guardian).
This enforcement action continues a pattern of Dominican policy. Throughout the past four years, authorities have regularly conducted residential raids and street apprehensions targeting Haitians. The government announced plans in October 2024 to deport 10,000 Haitians weekly, according to The Guardian.
Haiti’s situation continues to worsen. Cholera cases are increasing, gender-based violence has escalated, and UN data shows child sexual violence has risen tenfold. Gang-related violence claimed over 5,600 lives last year, while two-thirds of medical facilities have ceased operations following widespread medical worker abductions and killings.
Community representatives strongly opposed the Dominican policy. Speaking to The Guardian, Roudy Joseph, representing Haitians in the Dominican Republic, stated the deportations threaten women’s lives and compared the policy to an “apartheid system” requiring international intervention.
Additionally, Liliana Dolis, leader of the Dominican-Haitian Women’s Movement, described the expulsions as “barbaric,” noting that deportation fears prevent Haitian women from accessing essential medical services. “It represents an anti-women, anti-feminist position,” she declared, characterizing the situation as a clear example of gender and obstetric violence (The Guardian).
