Dominican Republic detains nearly 2,000 Haitian migrants in weekend operation

The Dominican Republic’s military announced a significant operation targeting illegal Haitian migration, detaining nearly 2,000 individuals over the weekend.

According to a statement issued by the army, 1,936 Haitians were intercepted by motorized patrols while traveling on foot through various border communities. In addition to the detainees, authorities arrested nine Dominican nationals accused of transporting Haitian migrants in vehicles ranging from motorcycles to minibuses. These arrests highlight what officials describe as an increasingly organized effort to facilitate irregular migration into the Dominican Republic.

This weekend’s operation is part of a broader crackdown on Haitian immigration, which has intensified in recent years amid mounting tensions between the two neighboring nations. Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) revealed that more than a quarter-million Haitians were removed from the Dominican Republic in 2024. The agency reported that 276,215 individuals were either deported or repatriated after being found in irregular migratory situations.