HAITI-IMMIGRATION/PROTESTS Activists march in Port-au-Prince to support Haitians facing Dominican deportation

Record ID: 146413

  • Title: HAITI-IMMIGRATION/PROTESTS Activists march in Port-au-Prince to support Haitians facing Dominican deportation
  • Date: 21st July 2015
  • Summary: PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (JULY 21, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING DOWN STREET TO DEMAND RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIGNITY FOR HAITIAN MIGRANTS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BANNER CELEBRATING DOMESTIC INDUSTRY BANNER CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT OF GOODS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OVER MIGRATION SITUATION VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN THE STREET MARCHING WITH POSTERS IN FAV
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Haiti
  • Country: Haiti
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1CSCLV59GQC4YI69CHY9R88PQ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Haitian activists marched on downtown Port-au-Prince on Tuesday (July 21) in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of Haitian migrants and Dominicans of Haitian descent who could face deportation in the Dominican Republic amidst an immigration crackdown.
    According to local media, hundreds of activists from more than twenty civil society groups were represented with some protesters calling for a boycott of Dominican products.
    The protest comes after the application of a 2013 court ruling in the Dominican Republic that denied children of Haitian migrants their birth certificates, identity documents, and stripped them of their nationality, Amnesty and the United Nations say.
    While the Dominican government says the legal changes aim to tackle illegal migration from neighbouring Haiti, human rights groups say the move is rooted in long-standing racism and xenophobia in the Dominican Republic towards darker-skinned Haitians.
    Activists estimate that up to 200,000 people are in legal limbo and stateless - not recognised as a citizen by Haiti or the Dominican Republic.
    Hundreds of thousands of Haitians have immigrated for years to the Dominican Republic for work.
    Jean Robert Argand, from the Collective December Four Organisation civil society group, called on Haitians to support local products that support citizens and build their economy.
    "We urge the Dominican Republic government to respect the rights of Haitians and their dignity. Also, we ask that they start to support our local products," he said.
    Last month, Haiti's Prime Minister Evans Paul said the influx of Haitians returning from the Dominican Republic was causing a humanitarian crisis.
    But Dominican authorities have downplayed concerns, saying those in the country can sign up for a regularisation process for undocumented migrants.
    The Dominican government set up a registration program that would grant two-year temporary migrant status to those who could meet requirements.
    Santo Domingo has defended the move, with the government reporting that more than 210,000 people have registered under the program. Those deemed eligible could earn temporary migrant status for two years.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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