^{FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE}

^{October 4, 2024}

^CONTACT:

^{Yanci Nuñez | ynunez@alianzaamericas.org (312) 866-0312}

Alianza Americas, a network of organizations led by immigrants of Latin American and Caribbean origin in the United States, expresses its deep concern over the decision of the government of the Dominican Republic to deport 10,000 undocumented Haitians every week. This move comes at a time when Haiti is experiencing a devastating humanitarian crisis. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of internally displaced persons has increased by 22% since June, exceeding 700,000, and half of them are children.

In the face of the violence and institutional collapse facing the country, the mass deportation of people not only endangers their lives but also increases their conditions of vulnerability. “Mass deportations of Haitian people from the Dominican Republic are a violation of human rights, separating families and impacting a country devastated by violence and forced displacement. Deportations should result from individual procedures that consider the family, social, and labor ties people have established in a country, and in which minimum due process guarantees are ensured,” said Yanira Arias, migrant justice coordinator at Alianza Americas. “These deportations are carried out arbitrarily. This type of action not only perpetuates discrimination but also deepens the humanitarian crisis by expelling people without regard to their legal status or personal situation,” Arias said.

In Port-au-Prince, where gangs control 80 percent of the city, displaced people live in dire conditions, with minimal access to essential services. Host communities, already facing food and resource shortages, are overwhelmed. “It is alarming that instead of prioritizing humanitarian and protection solutions, measures are being adopted that aggravate the crisis. We urge the government of the Dominican Republic to stop these deportations and to adopt a humane policy following international human rights standards, addressing the urgent needs of the Haitian population in terms of food security, housing, and access to health care,” said Helena Olea, Deputy Director of Programs of Alianza Americas. “Haiti needs the support and solidarity of Latin America and the Caribbean,” added Olea.

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Alianza Americas is the premier transnational advocacy network of Latin American migrant-led organizations working in the United States, across the Americas, and globally to create an inclusive, equitable and sustainable way of life for communities across North, Central and South America.