Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic – The influx of Haitians to Santo Domingo hospitals, and specifically to maternity wards, has dropped dramatically since public health centers began asking for identification last Monday as part of measures to combat illegal immigration from Haiti, EFE learned Wednesday.
At the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia Maternity Hospital, in the center of the capital and the country’s main hospital, consultation staff confirmed to EFE this drop in Haitian women attending, “there are fewer than before,” and without wishing to make any kind of assessment, they simply stated: “We are here to provide the service.”
This lower influx also coincided with a doctor from the hospital and a member of the Dominican law enforcement agency at the reception of the health center, where representatives—always women—from the General Directorate of Immigration (DGM) were also present at the entrances.
Motherhood
At the entrance to the maternity hospital, a yellow school-style bus transports women without legal status to the migrant reception center in Haina, about 20 kilometers from Santo Domingo, where their biometric data and fingerprints are taken for deportation purposes. According to the DGM, repatriations are only carried out after confirming that “there are no health risks” for the patients.
On board the bus, which has been stationed there since 6 a.m., a 14-year-old girl who is 23 weeks pregnant speaks to EFE from a window, despite claiming she has presented her birth certificate, which states that she was born in the Dominican Republic, even though she is of Haitian descent.
“When I got to the gate, I gave them my birth certificate, they checked it, and then this man came and said, ‘You have to wait’ for them to upload me to the system. Then they took me to the van,” says this first-time mother, who reiterates that she was born in Santiago (northern Dominican Republic).
After being taken to the van, “my mother came and gave her the birth certificate, and they’re uploading it to the system. I have my birth certificate,” she insists, despite which the bus eventually departed with her inside along with another pregnant teenager who also claims to be Dominican, although she didn’t present documentation, accompanied by her mother.
Criticism of the controversial measure
Two weeks ago, Dominican President Luis Abinader announced a series of measures to address irregular immigration from Haiti, including the implementation of a migration verification protocol in 33 public hospitals across the country.
This means inspectors and immigration agents verify that patients have valid identification, a work permit, and proof of residency in the country, and that they cover the cost of the services received. Otherwise, they will receive medical care and, once recovered, be deported.
On the first day of implementation alone, 87 pregnant and laboring Haitian women were detained in Dominican hospitals.
In response, Amnesty International (AI) today called on the Dominican government to immediately end the collective expulsions of Haitians and repeal the protocol linking access to health services with deportation.
In a statement, AI’s director for the Americas, Ana Piquer, said that implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care “not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented people and will likely discourage them from seeking hospital care, putting lives at risk.”
The Dominican Republic’s relationship with Haiti
In an April address to the nation, President Abinader recommended that the thousands of undocumented Haitians living in the Dominican Republic “leave voluntarily” or else “they will be sought out and repatriated.”
Last October, Abinader ordered the mass deportation of irregular migrants, approximately 10,000 per week, almost entirely affecting Haitians.
According to official data, since this measure was taken, more than 180,000 Haitians in an irregular situation have been deported to Haiti, despite calls from international organizations and agencies to prevent returns to a country where more than 5,600 people died due to violence in 2024.
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