SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Le Floridien) — Dominican immigration authorities detained 24 Haitian nationals during enforcement operations targeting more than 20 Chinese-owned businesses in Santo Domingo, according to information released by the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM).
The operations took place in Santo Domingo Este and the National District, with immigration agents inspecting fast-food establishments and merchandise stores along San Vicente de Paúl and Padre Castellanos avenues, the latter commonly known as “La 17.” The Haitian nationals were reportedly working or present at the businesses when immigration authorities conducted the operations, according to Prensa Latina.
Authorities described all 24 detainees as being in the Dominican Republic with irregular immigration status.
Detainees Taken to Immigration Processing Center
Following their detention, the Haitian nationals were transported to the Haina Immigration Processing Center, west of Santo Domingo.
According to the DGM, they will undergo the required immigration procedures before potentially being deported to Haiti. The operations involved the agency’s intelligence, interdiction and legal-affairs units and were conducted as part of broader efforts to enforce the country’s immigration laws.
The fact that the operation involved more than 20 Chinese-owned establishments also puts attention on workplaces employing or hosting undocumented migrants, as Dominican authorities continue expanding immigration enforcement.
The report did not indicate whether the owners or managers of the businesses faced sanctions or other legal action.
Dominican Republic Intensifies Immigration Enforcement
The arrests come amid a much broader immigration crackdown in the Dominican Republic, where Haitian migrants make up a significant share of those detained and deported.
Earlier this month, DGM Director Vice Admiral Luis Rafael Lee Ballester said Dominican authorities had deported 704,142 foreigners in irregular immigration status over a 22-month period. He attributed the increased enforcement capacity to restructuring within the immigration agency, additional personnel and greater resources.
According to the director, the DGM grew from 302 agents when he took office in October 2024 to 1,388 personnel, including 1,272 involved in operational enforcement and another 116 assigned to intelligence, investigations, internal affairs and judicial procedures.
The scale of those numbers illustrates how significantly immigration enforcement has expanded in the neighboring country at a time when Haiti continues to face political instability, economic hardship and severe insecurity.
Separate Arrest of Haitian National in Azua
In a separate incident reported by the DGM, immigration agents detained a 23-year-old Haitian national identified as Makendi in the southern province of Azua.
Authorities alleged that he was undocumented and possessed a homemade firearm and ammunition when agents located him with four other Haitian nationals during an immigration operation near Los Jovillos.
According to the DGM, the young man told investigators that he had purchased the weapon for 1,200 Dominican pesos, approximately $20, from an individual identified only as “Venu.” He was subsequently transferred to another processing facility while authorities continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the weapon.
Haitian Migration Remains a Sensitive Issue
Migration between Haiti and the Dominican Republic remains one of the most sensitive issues between the two countries sharing the island of Hispaniola.
The latest workplace operations demonstrate that Dominican immigration enforcement is extending beyond border areas and into businesses and communities where undocumented Haitian migrants live and work.
For the 24 Haitians detained in Santo Domingo, the next step will be the completion of immigration procedures at the Haina processing center, after which they could be returned to Haiti.
Source: Prensa Latina, citing the Dominican Republic’s General Directorate of Migration (DGM).
