March 17, 2026
A large-scale operation carried out on Tuesday, April 22, in Mata Mosquito by the Dominican Directorate of Migration, supported by the army and police, targeted undocumented Haitian immigrants. Over 500 individuals were arrested, and makeshift homes were destroyed.
Dominican authorities justified the action by citing the illegal occupation of private land. The demolished houses were built from tin and wood, allegedly without adherence to safety standards.
The detained migrants were transferred to the Haina detention center for identification, biometric processing, and deportation in accordance with Law 285-04. This move forms part of an increasingly stringent migration policy directed at Haitians.
Permanent military and police surveillance has been established to prevent new settlements on the land. Tensions remain high in border areas as deportations continue to escalate.
Meanwhile, four Haitian women and their newborns were arrested at a maternity clinic in Jarabacoa. A video showing a pregnant woman being forcibly removed has shocked public opinion, fueling outrage among human rights organizations
