February 18, 2026
A large-scale migration control operation resulted in the arrest of 454 Haitian nationals in irregular status in the Los Mina sector, east of Santo Domingo. The operation, conducted on Friday, February 13, 2026, was coordinated by the General Directorate of Migration with support from security authorities.
According to reports by Listín Diario, the operation occurred amid heightened tensions following the murder of a 14-year-old boy allegedly committed by a Haitian national. Authorities focused actions in the Katanga and Vietnam areas, as well as surrounding streets.
Among those arrested were 280 men, all transferred to the Haina Migration Processing Center for “identification and biometric registration.” Authorities stated that this step aims to establish each individual’s administrative status before any final decision.
The Directorate General of Migration reiterated that individuals unable to present valid documents will be repatriated in accordance with Migration Law 285-04. Its Director General, Luis Rafael Lee Ballester, warned that “migration control operations will continue throughout the national territory.”
