DOMINICAN-IMMIGRATION/LATEST Registration of Haitians gather pace in Dominican republic as deportation threat looms, IOM says

Record ID: 151711

  • Title: DOMINICAN-IMMIGRATION/LATEST Registration of Haitians gather pace in Dominican republic as deportation threat looms, IOM says
  • Date: 20th June 2015
  • Summary: SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (JUNE 19, 2015) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** GENERAL OF AREA KNOWN AS LITTLE HAITI VARIOUS OF HAITIAN YOUTH POLISHING SHOE MAN LOOKING OUT FROM BALCONY INTERIOR OF OPEN-AIR HALL IN PROPERTY SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (JUNE 18, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHIEF OF MISSION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ORGA
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Dominican Republic
  • Country: Dominican Republic
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA49B265L06HA1MGBGF17XFGKCH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An official from the International Organisation for Migration sought to play down fears Friday (June 19) of a chaotic mass deportation of Haitian migrants from the Dominican Republic following the lapse of a immigration deadline by which hundreds of thousands of migrant workers needed proper documentation.
    The Dominican Republic has set up a regularisation programme which will give undocumented Haitian migrants 45 days during which their applications are verified. Failure to comply means that unregistered migrants can be deported within 48 hours.
    Cy Winter, the inter-governmental International Organisation For Migration's (IOM) mission chief in the Dominican Republic told media that a system is in place.
    "But immigration officials are trained to identify people who have sent in application. These people carry documents or identification cards so that they're not deported. Immigration officials have been training to identify them (migrants) and I am very optimistic that they (officials) can proceed with the implementation of this immigration law in an adequate way," he said.
    The Dominican government says the changes to its nationality and immigration laws aim to tackle illegal migration from neighbouring Haiti. But human rights groups say the move is rooted in longstanding racism and xenophobia in the Dominican Republic towards darker-skinned Haitians.
    Government officials report that more than 288,000 migrants have signed up for the regularisation plan. Those deemed eligible could earn a two-year temporary migrant status.
    "All processes have their problems but this process has moved forward. Each person is clearly identified with the Dominican Republic and has a process that is moving forward. Many have received provisional status to continue to meet immigration requirements. The essential thing is that they are connected to the state as a person trying to comply with the law," added Winter.
    The Dominican army has 2,000 troops ready to help coordinate the removal of people who fail to meet legal requirements to remain in the country. Four "Welcome Centres" are being set up to receive undocumented people, the government said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register