June 14, 2025
Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE in French) issued a statement on May 22, 2025, expressing its “deepest concern” over “xenophobic acts” targeting Haitian nationals in the Dominican Republic—particularly pregnant and nursing women. The Haitian government is calling for both national and international mobilization to defend “the rights and dignity of our fellow citizens,” while urging adherence to existing laws and international conventions.
According to the MAE, directives have been sent to the Haitian Embassy in the Dominican Republic to step up efforts to protect migrants. These include the organization of “voluntary repatriation caravans under dignified conditions.” Haitian diplomats have also been instructed to “consistently demand respect for the rights of Haitians” from Dominican authorities and to investigate reported violations.
The ministry’s statement highlights the inhumane conditions faced by Haitian women, who are often deported without consideration for their health. The MAE reiterated the Haitian government’s commitment to pursuing “the path of dialogue” and called on civil society and human rights organizations to join in the fight for justice.
This official stance comes amid a wave of mass deportations, with over 250,000 Haitians expelled since 2024, including pregnant women and children. The Dominican government, under President Luis Abinader, has defended the deportations as necessary for national security, but NGOs have denounced them as discriminatory.
In conclusion, the MAE voiced support for protest actions, including a sit-in planned for May 23, 2025, by civil society groups to raise awareness about the crisis. “Only through unity and solidarity,” the ministry emphasized, “can we ensure our rights are respected,” reaffirming Haiti’s commitment to defending its citizens wherever they may be.
